Theatre / Haunted Bristol
The unstoppable rise of Bristol’s paranormal comedy smash, ‘Gurt Haunted’
Benj Foster is in reflective mood as we meet for coffee in the Bristol Old Vic foyer.
For the last few years, and together with close friends and fellow actors Casey Lloyd and Toby George – whom he met through the Made in Bristol free theatre training programme at Bristol Old Vic, he has been slowly developing the part-devised, part-improvised paranormal comedy, Gurt Haunted.
Inspired by characters like Derek Acorah from TV’s Most Haunted, as well as Daisy May and Charlie Cooper’s hit mockumentary sitcom This Country, it’s a parody that can be adapted to suit any given venue; from the old actors haunting the corridors of the oldest English-speaking theatre in the world, to Weston-super-Mare’s ‘carrot-shaped’ Silica bus shelter.
The project originated at a scratch night at The Wardrobe Theatre, at which Lloyd and George decided to perform a 10 minute ‘séance’. “People loved it”, recalls Foster. “They wondered how to expand it into a show, and so they brought me in.”
The trio prepared to debut Gurt Haunted at Swindon’s Shoebox Theatre, only to be shut down due to Covid, just days before opening night. Consequently, the show was deprioritised for a while, and with the three actors living and working in different places, moving it back onto their agenda had its challenges.
“And then, we agreed it felt like time for us to go for it again”, recalls Foster. Following successive pub theatre outings at the Alma Tavern and Theatre, Weston-super-Mare’s Front Room Theatre, Stroud Festival and a short run at The Weston Studio in 2024, the project has been steadily gaining momentum ever since.
Encouragingly, this traction has been bringing a different audience to the theatre; 30 per cent of sales for the Front Room run were from new buyers, indicative of a strong word-of-mouth affect.
Gurt Haunted – photo: Edward Felton
Although neither Foster, Lloyd or George come from theatre-going families, they have been hugely supported by friends and relatives. “They say: ‘you’re actually really funny!’” grins Foster.
“It’s been so great to see people connecting through this new world, and all through us idiots messing around on stage. But it takes you out of the world for an hour; it’s silly, and that makes us feel good.”
As the autumn and winter of 2025 arrives, the project seems to have hit warp speed, with two nights of Gurt Haunted at London’s Old Red Lion theatre in late October as part of Grimfest, before a week-long run at The Weston Studio in November, and a full Christmas run of the festive spin-off, Gurt Haunted: Miracle on North Street at Tobacco Factory Theatres to round off the year.
Gurt Haunted Miracle on North Street – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres
Since all three actors are balancing work with rehearsals, it’s a hectic time. And the significance – not to say the responsibility – of gracing the two biggest theatrical stages in Bristol with their own devised show is something they feel keenly.
Unlike Lloyd and George, Foster never went to drama school. He was brought up on the outskirts of Bristol, in Stockwood, and felt like it wouldn’t be a natural fit. “I just didn’t think it would be for me”, he admits. “It’s such a tough environment.”
As we close our chat, I put it to him that the continued success of Gurt Haunted is testament to getting together, doing the thing that you love, and being able to make it within a supportive environment.
Gurt Haunted – photo: Edward Felton
“That’s true”, he agrees. “Sometimes I forget how far we’ve come, but then I like to take a step back and think about it. I’m very proud of the three of us, and our director Krista (Matthews), and everyone else who has helped us along the way.
“The Bristol theatre community has been amazing. We want the best for each other and we’re all trying to grow together. It’s put my faith back into theatre, which is an incredibly tough place to be at the moment.
“It’s great how supportive everyone’s been of us three Bristol boys, and it’s lovely to be out there doing a show that is so representative both of us, and our home city.”
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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.
Main photo: Edward Felton
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