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.