Horror

Here’s the perfect show for audiences looking for something unique from their theatre experiences. Horror takes you on a dark and visceral journey through the myriad tropes of horror films in a manner that’s sure to astound. It’s set in a spooky house where we see a young woman and her friends arrive on a rainy night. It’s the former home of the woman, who soon starts being haunted by her terrible past.

The entire tale is superbly told without words. The non-verbal storytelling serves to build and maintain an uncomfortable tension; the kind that makes audiences titter with nervousness. Among the blood, gore and tons of suspense are plenty of moments of humour. These are necessary to break the otherwise relentless tension.

Performers Andrea Beugger, Luc Van Esch, Thoman Van Ouwerkerk, Yannick Greweldinger, Reiner Schimmel, Silke Hundertmark, Sofieke de Kater and Gwen Langenberg display perfect physical theatre skills, especially in the fight scenes and during the dance choreography. They also have amazing timing and work well with the many sound effects and lighting cues. The troupe has excellent trust in one another, allowing them to take great risks to thrill the audience.

Director Jakop Ahlbom has an amazing imagination. He’s clearly a big fan of the genre as he’s used many recognisable elements from horror films but he’s not lampooning them. Instead, the show leans heavily on some mind-boggling illusions straight out of the magician’s handbook. Performers appear out of nowhere, levitate, and eject fountains of blood when wounded. Robotics and dummies are used to make a disembodied hand crawl across the stage, a ghostly aspiration’s head spin, and a victim of the poltergeists lose his intestines.   

Douwe Hibma, Jakop Ahlbom and Remco Gianotten have designed a set that flawlessly supports the many illusions. The furniture that moves by itself, the couch that swallows people whole and the bathtub that’s a portal to the ghostly realm are highlights. Yuri Schreuders’ lighting design aids many of the illusions and the cues are expertly executed. Wim Conradi and Bauke Moerman’s music design and soundscape chills one to the bones. The costuming by Esmee Thomassen and Kyra Wesse is flawless and quickly conveys character types. The father and mother costumes are especially great.

Horroris a must-see for anyone who enjoys a good scare. It’s wonderful to see such imaginative and exciting theatre. If you know someone who thinks all theatre is boring, inaccessible and stuffy, prove them wrong by taking them to this show.

Kiesten McCauley