Theatre / Reviews
Review: Gurt Haunted, The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic – ‘Sadly misses the mark’
The pursuit of the paranormal historically relies upon a hefty dollop of myth-making combined with such ‘evidence’ that can just about be relied upon as clues to whatever is freaking out those chasing the undead.
With Gurt Haunted, the first clue is in the title: a self-described ‘comedy thriller’ set in the weird wilds of the West Country, where Things That Go Bump In The Night make their presence known by imbuing objects such as a table-tennis ball, a pewter tankard and a Take That CD with eerie life force.
The second clue also sits in the title. To a large extent, Gurt Haunted – as the name suggests – parodies the bullshit-laden hysteria of Most Haunted, the legendary paranormal TV show in which the presenters themselves were far more ghoulish than any of the otherworldly shadows they were chasing.
Gurt Haunted’s crackpot cast – Francis Hailbop (Toby George), Tony Chestnut (Casey Lloyd) and Arthur Goodun/Reece (Benj Foster) – channel the days when the likes of Yvette Fielding and Derek Acorah could make an audience jump out of their seats in fear while simultaneously provoking convulsions of unintended hilarity. An easy parody, you’d image – which makes this show somewhat disappointing in that it doesn’t quite hit such a simple mark.
Sure, the cast certainly nails that Taking-Itself-Far-Too-Seriously nature of Most Haunted while throwing in a host of Bristol references that provoke knowing laughter.
However, the whole piece quickly descends into slapstick, and in choosing daft over deft sheds audience investment in the characters. What could’ve been clever, dark satire (i.e, akin to what the trio behind The League of Gentlemen and Inside Number 9 are capable of) instead plays to easy laughs, falling short as a result.
A sharper, more twisted take on the nature of the paranormal as TV fodder might’ve made for a stimulating evening. Instead, we had an average comedy show with little to none of the promised ‘thriller’. Tighter writing and a bolder, more challenging approach to audience participation would go a long way to lifting Gurt Haunted out of its current schoolboyishness and into something far weirder, stranger and unsettling. And hilarious with it.
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Gurt Haunted: A Paranormal Comedy is at The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic on November 4-8 at 8pm, with an additional 5pm show on November 8. Tickets are available at www.bristololdvic.org.uk.
Gurt Haunted: Miracle on North Street is at Tobacco Factory Theatres on December 9-January 3 2026 at 7.30pm, with some additional 2.30pm matinee shows. Tickets are at www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com.
All photos: Edward Felton
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