The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Horror at the Peacock Theatre

Horror at the Peacock Theatre | Theatre review
26 January 2016
Stuart McMillan
Avatar
Stuart McMillan
26 January 2016

What generates fear, and why do we love so much to be terrified? That is what Jakop Ahlbom’s Horror aims to explore. As a love letter to the horror films that both scared and delighted the director in his youth, this performance at the Peacock Theatre could so easily have fallen too far into parody, or collapsed under the weight of pastiche. But the end result is a balletic feat of theatre, mixed with clever cinematography, a great soundtrack and a story with depth.

Forming part of the 2016 London International Mime Festival, Horror tells the story of a young woman’s return to the old house in which she used to live with her parents and sister. But the house has a sinister past, and, as the fate of her sister is slowly revealed via a series of wonderfully presented, funny nods to classic horror flicks like The Ring, The Exorcist, and The Shining, the narrative takes on a psychological aspect. It becomes the heady emotional suspense, and the idea of love pushed to its limits, that make the production so captivating. It is clear from the play that Ahlbom’s least favourite movies of the genre are slasher films.

With a stage that functions as a house with lounge and kitchen, a forest, and a large screen, Horror’s successes are marked in particular by the skilful choreography and classic horror-movie soundtrack (both executed perfectly by the Jakop Ahlbom Company’s sterling troupe of performers). Such a profound tale of familial distress, child abuse and sisterly love is told without anybody uttering more than a word, but far from being empty, it feels like no words are needed.

Whilst non-horror fans may find themselves at a loss when confronted with the references, however blatant, and whilst the imitative nature of the production can sometimes encroach on its excellent personal qualities, Horror manages to transcend the background and influences that it so openly espouses. It does classic, solid horror very well – and terrifies you into feeling good.

★★★★★

Stuart McMillan

Horror is on at the Peacock Theatre from 25th until 26th January 2016, for further information or to book visit here.

Watch a trailer for Horror here:

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.

YouTube privacy policy

If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

Rita at Charing Cross Theatre

★★★★★
Mae Trumata
Read More

Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry

★★★★★
Ella Satin
Read More

Royal Ballet School students return to the stage for post-Covid performances

The editorial unit
Read More

“Theatre is totally unique… there’s simply nothing else quite like it”: An interview with Sir Howard Panter as the new cast of Jersey Boys opens at Trafalgar Theatre

Natallia Pearmain
Read More

Jersey Boys bring on a new cast at Trafalgar Theatre

Natallia Pearmain
Read More

All of Us at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Midsummer Mechanicals at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

★★★★★
Alexandra Fletcher
Read More

Camden Fringe 2022: The Importance of Being Anxious at Museum of Comedy

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More

Camden Fringe 2022: Rome 3000 (Julius Caesar) at Canal Cafe Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Stuart McMillan

Horror

★★★★★

Dates

25th January - 26th January 2016

Price

£12-£29

Links & directions

WebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Tips for creating a peaceful home
    Feature of the week
  • Royal Ballet School students return to the stage for post-Covid performances
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • “Film offers a way of looking at the past, the present and the future simultaneously. That’s its wonder”: Sarah Beddington on Fadia’s Tree
    Cinema & Tv
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • South Facing Festival: Richard Ashcroft and his band were on impressive form from start to finish
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Nope
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

One and Two | Movie review
Youth | Movie review