The Woman in Black

Theatre lovers in Dubai will have the chance to catch the chilling, classic gothic horror ‘The Woman in Black’ which will be performed at Souk Madinat Jumeirah from September 26 to October 2. The show returns to Dubai following sold-out performances in 2009, 2012 and 2015.

Based off of Susan Hill’s bestselling novel of the same name, the play was written for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, and has graced the West End for 27 years. The story concerns the lawyer and recent widower Arthur Kipps, who is sent to a remote village to handle the legal affairs of a deceased eccentric. But all is not well in the village: and the spirit of a woman (in black) haunts the house Kipps is staying in, seeking something she has lost, and slowly blurring the line between reality and fantasy. The original 1987 production was billed as a “Christmas ghost story” and starred just two men due to its limited budget. The spartan set of the two man play worked to the play’s advantage, relying on the power of suggestion to conjure the malevolent. The gothic horror became a hit on London’s West End, where it has run since it first premiered in 1989. It is the West End’s second-longest running non-musical after Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery, The Mousetrap, which started in 1952.

Audiences will be familiar with the play from the 2012 film adaptation staring Daniel Radcliffe but watching it live is a completely different experience. The complete joy of being scared, anticipation of the next scare, of hanging in the balance of suspense is of course the main reason why The Woman in Black has continued to bring in the crowds over the years. The classic tropes of a ghost story have never worked so well to move the plot forward, while the props, production and the alchemy of the theater create a formula to bring the production to life.

There will be nightly shows plus four matinee performances of the terrifying production, which has been internationally acclaimed as one of the most spectacular live shows in the world. Although scary, the show is suitable for children over 10 years of age, and does not feature blood, gore,violence or bad language. So be sure to check it out at the Madinat Theatre.

Ticket are available online at www.seewomaninblack.com or www.madinattheatre.com and at the Souk Madinat Jumeirah box office.