Show is hailed as a must-see for thrill-seekers – but will they hold their nerve
Scene from Paranormal Activity – coming to Hull in 2027(Image: Marc Brenner)
A brand-new chiller of a story that unfolds live on stage is set to send shivers down spines. The scary theatrical experience, Paranormal Activity, is heading for Hull New Theatre.
Originally developed at Leeds Playhouse, audiences in Hull now have the chance to witness the haunting phenomenon that has taken the West End by storm. Inspired by the worldwide horror franchise, Paranormal Activity, this new show is directed by immersive theatre pioneer and Punchdrunk’s founder and artistic director, Felix Barrett, and written by playwright Levi Holloway, who has earned a reputation for creating pulse-pounding theatrical thrillers on Broadway.
James and Lou move from Chicago to London to escape their past, but they soon discover that places are not haunted – people are. Now embarking on its first ever UK and Ireland tour after a sell-out, extended run in London, this chilling production, which has won praise for its inventive storytelling and terrifying atmosphere, promises to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and it is coming to Hull from April 20 to 24, 2027.
Blurring the line between cinema and live theatre, Paranormal Activity has been hailed as a “relentlessly frightening – arm-clutchingly, stranger-embracingly so” (Metro) theatrical experience, leaving audiences jumping out of their seats and questioning what is lurking in the dark long after the curtain falls. Paranormal Activity reimagines the modern ghost story with an unsettling intimacy only theatre can provide.
Immersing audiences in an atmosphere of creeping dread, unseen forces, and psychological tension, Holloway’s script offers a bold reinterpretation of the original, blending domestic horror with mind-bending theatricality. Barrett, known for breaking boundaries between audience and performer, brings his signature visionary style to the production.
With innovative staging and chilling soundscapes, Paranormal Activity invites audiences to witness the inexplicable up close—and feel the fear in real time. Released by Paramount Pictures in 2009, the original Paranormal Activity is a master class in psychological terror. Reimagining the found footage genre for a new generation, the film became a global sensation, grossing nearly $200m worldwide and kicking off a blockbuster franchise spanning seven feature films.
Now, the legacy of fear comes to the intimate world of the theatre as the terrifying phenomenon transitions to the stage. Beginning its UK and Ireland tour later this year, Paranormal Activity is down as a must-see event for thrill-seekers and theatre lovers alike.
Tickets for the run of Hull shows go on sale on Friday, February 27, at 10am. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit hulltheatres.co.uk