Bly, Essex. Angelic 9 year-old Flora and precocious 12 year-old Miles are the picture of innocence, rescuing injured birds and playing make-believe by the shady lake. But, as a new governess arrives at the manor to take care of them, disturbing secrets emerge from beneath the undulating waters. Questioning the truth behind the children’s stories, the governess finds it increasingly hard to tell reality from her nightmares – until she is forced to take action. Did you really see her? Or was it just a trick of the light?
Henry James’ classic ghost story, chillingly reimagined by playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Her Naked Skin), is an enthralling mix of Halloween thriller and psychological mystery, drawing in both believers and sceptics alike. The play has been used as inspiration for West End classic The Woman in Black and adapted for Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor.
What can you tell me about The Turn of the Screw?
The Turn of the Screw is a classic horror story. Even if you haven’t heard of it, you’ve probably heard of one of the stories or films it’s inspired: The Woman in Black, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Innocents, The Others…! But the reason I love it is because of the depth and complexity of the characters. In Henry James’ novella, it’s all told through the central character’s perspective, so you never quite know if she’s telling the truth or not. Rebecca’s adaptation retains that ambiguity, so you get this really rich tapestry of different characters’ past experiences and beliefs. My hope is that you’ll leave the theatre trying to piece together what you think happened.
Where did the inspiration for the piece come from?
When rereading the novel, I was struck by how vulnerable the children are and how so many adults have let them down. I wanted to ask questions about responsibility and where someone could have acted sooner. This felt like an issue that resonates strongly with a contemporary world, so I wanted to explore the story outside of a Victorian setting. I wanted to ask ‘what happens if we bring this closer to now’? The 80s felt like a good period to explore: there wasn’t the ease and speed of communication that we have now, and child safeguarding was a newer and evolving concern.
How do you think the 80s setting changes the piece?
I don’t think it changes anything of the story, or who these people are, or the fears that they face - but I hope it allows audiences to see a different perspective. I hope it allows people to see that this story isn’t far in the distant past, but rather quite haunting for now.
How important was it to explore horror in your vision for the show?
Horror is such a fun genre because the audience can feel so much! There are so many opportunities to create tension, surprise and laughter with the staging, the music, and the design. There are also so many brilliant 80s horror films and we’ve tried to reference a few of them as little Easter Eggs throughout the show!
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| The cast for the production. |
Did you have to do much research whilst developing the show?
I watched lots of horror films and read a lot around The Turn of the Screw and Henry James’ work. Then we mainly just answered questions about the reality of the world of the characters. That’s led us to some interesting topics about old Georgian houses and where Miles might have gone to school, and also to some very practical things, like deciding on the layout of the house or how long it might take to get to Bly from London.
What keeps you inspired?
Working with brilliant people! I love collaborating and bouncing ideas around. There’s a fantastic team working on The Turn of the Screw who are bringing incredible ideas and skills to the show.
What do you hope an audience member takes away from The Turn of the Screw?
I hope they have a really thrilling and spooky night and leave discussing their theories about what they think actually happened! Who do they believe?
Where can audiences see the show?
The Turn of the Screw is on at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 3-26 October.
You can book by visiting queens-theatre.co.uk, or calling the Box Office on 01708 443333
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