Is Anybody There? In Plymouth

A show inspired by ghostly experiences at the University of Exeter is heading to Plymouth.

Two playwrights blend their own encounters with hauntings, psychology experiments, and the "Philip Experiment" (attempting to create a ghost).

Writer Jon Nash explains the show explores how our minds can deceive us, even our senses, sharing true ghost stories while investigating the line between real hauntings and unexplained phenomena.

Developed with Theatre Royal over several years, the show has expanded from a 15-minute scratch performance, incorporating input from psychologists, ghost hunters, and a magician.

Audience participation is key, with opportunities to observe or even join Nash onstage to reenact hauntings.

"We’ve been enjoying spooking audiences during development—some have reported seeing or feeling a chilling presence," says Nash.

Beyond the ghost stories, the show explores how our minds create negative self-perceptions impacting mental health, a theme informed by the artists' work with young people, especially post-pandemic.