Ghosts and the supernatural often instigate passionate dialogue between those who believe and those who don’t and Danny Robins' acclaimed stage play, 2:22 A Ghost Story brings the topic to the forefront with dramatic effect.

A play that's guaranteed to have you sitting on the edge of your seat, 2:22 features the ever versatile Stacey Dooley as lead character Jenny - a new mum convinced she is hearing and seeing strange things in the middle of the night. Here the spine-tingling narrative unfolds.

When Jenny opens up to her husband Sam (played by Dooley's real-life partner, Kevin Clifton) about the safety of their baby in a space that feels disturbing and threatening, her concerns are dismissed. Sam’s clinical and logical brain will have none of Jenny’s superstitious behaviour and during a dinner party with their friends Lauren and Ben (played by Shvorne Marks and Grant Kilburn), the tension between the believers and disbelievers of the supernatural becomes raw and explosive.

2:22 is a very clever play that weaves ancient spiritual beliefs with the modern reality of reductionism - where everything is deemed to be explainable by analysis. However, there are some things that simply cannot be explained...

As the story unfolds, the relationships of the two couples are exposed with gritty and emotive reality. What initially appears solid and loving soon shows a dark side with repercussions for all four characters.

Stand out features of 2:22 include the dramatic lighting and eerie sound effects - the latter of which are utterly startling at times. This is not a play for those with a nervous disposition but the storyline is engrossing and one which many can relate to. The twists and turns are disconcerting and there's a very unexpected ending... 

This is an outstanding piece of theatre brimming with suspense and drama. Startling and engaging in equal measure, 2:22 is a tour de force of the supernatural narrative not to be missed. It's certainly deserving of the standing ovation it received from an appreciative audiences in Stoke last night.

Five stars

Reviewed by Carol Lovatt at The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent on Monday 29 September.
2:22 A Ghost Story continues to show at the venue until Saturday 4 October. The production then returns to the region to play The Alexandra, Birmingham, from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 October and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 May, 2026.

5 Stars on Tue, 30 Sep 2025

The latest production of award-winning supernatural thriller 2:22 - A Ghost Story stars real-life celebrity couple Kevin Clifton (Strictly dancer and musical theatre star) and Stacey Dooley (TV presenter, journalist and Strictly winner). Touring the UK until 2026, the show played for a second evening at Malvern Theatres last night, and was performed in front of a very receptive and appreciative audience.

The chilling story begins by introducing the audience to new parents Jenny (Dooley) and Sam (Clifton). Something spooky is happening at their recently bought fixer-upper home. At precisely 2:22am on consecutive nights, Jenny hears footsteps via the monitor in her baby’s room. Finding no-one there, she believes that their new home is haunted. Sam, on the other hand, is sceptical in the extreme, dismissing her fears with rational explanations.

When the couple invite Lauren (Shvorne Marks), a university friend of Sam’s, and her new partner Ben (Grant Kilburn) to dinner, discussions become heated, as sceptics and believers argue about the probable cause of the ‘spooky’ events. With a little persuasion from Jenny, the guests agree to stay until 2:22 in the morning and see if a ghost appears...

Although the play explores paranormal phenomena and features plenty of dramatic sound effects and eerie lighting, 2:22 is not just a ghost story, it’s also a psychological thriller, as the audience is taken on a chilling journey into the heart of the characters’ emotions and complex relationship dynamics. 

Moments of real apprehension are cleverly interspersed with injections of delightful comedy. But be warned: you might well find yourself being lulled into a false sense of security.

It’s hard to write too much without giving away spoilers. Suffice it to say that this is a gripping and intriguing story, brilliantly delivered by a small, hugely talented cast. There’s a winning chemistry that’s very much in evidence between Dooley and Clifton, who bring great emotion to their roles. Personally speaking, I absolutely loved the ending, which I thought brought the rest of the play together perfectly. 

Reviewed by Sue Hull

5 Stars on Tue, 23 Sep 2025