The Woman In Black, Billingham Forum (From The Northern Echo)

The Woman In Black, Billingham Forum

1:48pm Friday 21st November 2008

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AGHOSTLY air is hanging over Teesside this week with the latest production at the much-loved Billingham Forum.

A superb performance of Susan Hill’s thriller, The Woman in Black, had the audience gripped on Monday night, where the tale of ghostly goings-on at a remote house on the north-west coast was retold.

Two-man cast Sean Baker and Ben Porter worked tirelessly to give a faultless performance in this atmospheric play, which had the audience hanging on their every word and screaming with fright.

Talented Porter, who was in every scene, commanded the stage with ease in his emotive portrayal of a young Arthur Kipps.

While veteran actor Baker, whose film credits include An American Werewolf in London and whose TV career has spanned everything, from Foyle’s War to Midsomer Murders, was truly brilliant. He slipped from one role to the next seamlessly, switching personalities and dialects without a thought.

And, with perfect timing, a dash of humour and a lot of humility, he made every character likeable and entertaining, which is quite a feat.

The entire crew involved in this PW Productions performance, which, along with Baker and Porter, has been treading the boards in London’s West End, should be congratulated. The play does not come with songs, music and huge sets, so much of its success is down to the chemistry on stage, along with great lighting, stage effects and, of course, the writing.

However, they pulled it off.

There was definitely a tension in the theatre as the story unfolded, and many of the Alevel students in the audience were to be seen hiding behind their programmes at regular intervals.

■ Until this Saturday, with two matinee performances today and Saturday. Tickets from £15, with concessions available. Box office: 01642- 552663.

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