Beware of… The Frightmare! Pither Productions’ “Tales From the Hellfire Club” brings to life four brand-new, short #horror plays that are sure to delight & excite...🤩😲

Bringing Rod Sterling #vibes à la #thetwilightzone, a charismatic host, Dr. Bliss, kicks off the evening with Christopher Stagg's “The Frightmare”. After scoping out the audience for our biggest fears, Dr. Bliss introduces a mysterious being sitting in a centre-stage chair. This is Klaus, whose eyes have the power to reveal our worst nightmares. A sceptic audience member volunteers for a staring contest👀 and the situation quickly takes an unsettling turn, setting the stage for a deliciously boggling evening...

Next: “Birth Rite” by Gavin Charles. The writer himself plays a hilarious yet endearing Martyn, who has just turned 40. But there’s more to be scared of than turning the big ‘4-0’😱🎂... Unbeknownst to him, Martyn has an unwelcoming gift on the horizon: a prophetic transformation awaits that will change his life forever. The gory ending here is brilliantly balanced by Charles’ comedic script, bringing relief to an otherwise, all-out dark tale…

In “Just Jack” by Alexander Charles, the year is 1966, and a man claiming to be 97-year-old #JacktheRipper has just arrived at a London police station. He is here to confess. Though we are certainly enthralled by Simon Moore’s compelling performance as the perpetrator, the urge to re-investigate the inner motives of this infamous serial killer is slightly befuddling…

Last, but not least! “The Hollow Ice” by Nina Atesh. A scientist fails to save her colleague after a disastrous bout in the Arctic ice🧊🚨 The #DrFrankenstein-like plot intrigues & deliciously dumbfounds, as the lines between life & death are blurred. While a clearer narrative conclusion is desired, the creative storyline nonetheless lingers in our minds…

In all, “Tales From the Hellfire Club” is full of stories that both mesmerise & confound. Creative plots stir our curiosity, and compelling performances keep us on the edge of our seats. By the end, audiences may find that they, too, still have a few ‘Frightmares’ to contend with... ⭐4/5

#grimfest #londontheatre #newwriting