STAGE FRIGHTS

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY COMES TO THE WEST END IN A HAUNTING NEW PLAY

- WILL SALMON

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY WAS the horror success story of 2007. Oren Peli's found-footage thriller was shot for just $15,000, but became an instant smash hit, grossing almost $200m at the box office and leading to six cinematic sequels before the franchise petered out with 2021's underwhelming Paranormal Activity: Next Of Kin. But ghost stories never truly die... Now Paranormal Activity has come shrieking back to life as a stage play. Following a successful first run at Leeds Playhouse earlier this year, the production is now set to haunt London's West End. SFX spoke with writer Levi Holloway and director Felix Barrett to find out more...

“It starts with a couple of newlyweds, James and Lou, who have moved from Chicago to London, looking for a fresh start,” says Holloway, who also hails from the Windy City. “Things took a dark turn for them in Chicago, but what they discover is that you can’t run from your past, and it’s not places that are haunted, but people.”

Further plot details are not forthcoming, as all involved are keen to keep