Lily Allen is to make her West End debut in the world premiere of Danny Robins’ new play 2:22 – A Ghost Story at London’s Noël Coward Theatre from 3 August to 16 October 2021 (press night is 11 August). The production will feature Julia Chan, Hadley Fraser and Jake Wood and will be directed by Matthew Dunster.
Allen plays Jenny alongside Fraser (City of Angels) as Sam, Chan (Silent House and Katy Keene) who will play Lauren and Wood (EastEnders) playing Ben. Robins is best known for his hugely successful podcast The Battersea Poltergeist which is being made into a TV series. 2:22 – A Ghost Story is his debut play in the West End. Olivier Award-nominated director Dunster received universal acclaim for his productions of Martin McDonagh’s A Very Very Very Dark Matter and Hangmen and Sam Shepard’s True West.
“There’s something in our house. I hear it every night, at the same time.” Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know.
Lily Allen said: “I am so excited about getting to work on this play. The live performance aspect of my career has always been the most thrilling part for me, connecting with a group of individuals and the spontaneity of whatever happens on the night. I feel that stepping into this play is an exciting natural extension of that and affords me the best of all worlds. I get to explore mature subject matter, be a woman with a real point of view and show the West End audiences how much I love live performance and being in front of an audience. I can’t wait!
“Danny’s play is a brilliant investigation into the ghosts that haunt us and the how’s and why’s they come to be. It’s everything I love; wit, a meditation on marriage and relationships and family all hinging on a frightening plot. Matthew is an amazing director who has worked with some of the coolest material theatre has to offer. I’m a fan of what he does, and so honoured that he asked me to come on board.”
Matthew Dunster added: “I’m so excited to be directing this play. A unique combination of horror and social commentary. Danny has really come up with something special and scary for audiences to experience together as they return to the theatre. Myself and designer Anna Fleischle like creating an atmosphere of suspense, just as we did together on Hangmen and A Very Very Very Dark Matter. And this is Lily’s stage debut, and I feel really privileged and excited to be guiding that. Lastly, I’ve always wanted to direct something that means at the end you ask punters and press not to spoil it for those who’ll come later. There’s a real surprise waiting for audiences.”
Danny Robins commented: “I’m thrilled to be making my West End debut with this jaw-dropping cast and Matthew, one of the most exciting directors in British theatre. Anyone who’s heard The Battersea Poltergeist will know my fascination with the question “do ghosts exist?”, so 2:22 has been a labour of love, exploring the clash between belief and scepticism through a couple’s relationship. And of course it’s bloody scary! I wanted to create a night out in the theatre that gives you that delicious tingly feeling in your spine and keeps you on the edge of your seat right up until the end.
“There’s something deeply cathartic about ghost stories – what better way to celebrate the end of social distancing than to grab your mate’s arm in terror? I’m excited to partner with Runaway who have a great track record of delivering really distinctive ‘event’ theatre. I’m hoping this will be a show you’ll enjoy and then argue with your friends about. And I’ll be wanting to know on Twitter afterwards – what do YOU believe???”
2:22 – A Ghost Story features set design by Anna Fleischle, costume design by Cindy Lin, lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph Sound, casting by Jessica Ronane CDG and illusions by Chris Fisher. It is produced by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Isobel David and Kater Gordon.
