CHILLING GHOST STORY SET TO TAKE TO THE STAGE AT CHESTER THEATRE

Theatre company Against The Grain are set to stage ghost story 'Haunting Julia' by celebrated playwright Alan Ayckbourn in the intimate surroundings of The Salisbury Studio at Chester Little Theatre from Wednesday 8th - Saturday 11th  October at 7.30pm, with a Matinee performance on Saturday 11th October at 2.30pm. The play will be directed for Against The Grain by Marian Newman and presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French. 

Described as a hair-raising, spooky tale for a chilly October evening, 'Haunting Julia' follows on from Against The Grain's sell out production of 'Hansard' at Chester Little Theatre last October, and 'Frank' and 'A Delicate Balance' at St Mary's Creative Space earlier this year.

Written by Alan Ayckbourn in 1994, 'Haunting Julia' tells the story of Joe who, twelve years after his daughter, Julia, died, has turned the student house in which she spent her last eighteen months into a museum. Dubbed 'little Miss Mozart' by the media, Julia was a child prodigy who created over 100 musical compositions in her short life. Joe invites her ex boyfriend, Andy, and a psychic, Ken, to her student bedroom in an attempt to find answers as to how and why Julia died. Does Andy know more than he is telling and is Ken all he claims to be? And is it only Julia herself who can reach out to Joe? 

'Haunting Julia' will feature Mark Newman (Hansard, Frank,) as Joe, Stuart Evans (Frank, A Delicate Balance) as Andy and Simon Phillips (A Delicate Balance) as Ken. All three were last seen on stage together in Against The Grain's highly acclaimed 2023 production of the Frank McGuiness hostage drama 'Someone Who'll Watch Over Me'. 

Speaking about the play, Marian Newman said:

"The story surrounds a father's desperate search for answers and attempts to keep the memory of his daughter alive. As a result of this, ghostly manifestations and secrets are revealed. Despite the spooky nature of the piece, what myself and the cast have found interesting in rehearsals is the surprising amount of humour in the play. Ayckbourn is known for his social observational comedies, however 'Haunting Julia' is very different from this genre, but his flair for bringing out humour in a situation is still very much part of this play.”

Full details of 'Haunting Julia' can be found at: 

www.chesterlittletheatre.co.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online (booking fees apply).

Pictured - The cast of 'Haunting Julia' -  Mark Newman, Stuart Evans and Simon Phillips.