The Exorcist is a little flabby, even at a short 100 minute running time, and it never matches the nerve-shredding tension of the movie version, but there are sufficient scares to get the blood pumping.
FEATURED SHOW: Is The Exorcist as scary as ever? Reviews are in from Windsor
The West End hit, Bill Kenwright Productions’ stage adaptation of The Exorcist, is now at Theatre Royal Windsor ahead of a new UK-wide tour. Is this demonic tale as scary as ever? We’ve rounded up a selection of review highlights. Time to get booking!
WATCH: Chilling trailers for The Exorcist adapted from screen to stage
The demon is waiting… Is the scariest movie of all time even scarier live onstage? Take a look at these two trailers of The Exorcist for a hint, but you’ll have to be brave enough to buy a ticket to confirm. The hit play returns to the stage tomorrow at Theatre Royal Windsor. Time to get booking!
‘It’s really about struggles of faith’: Agnes of God author John Pielmeier on adapting The Exorcist for the stage
Did you know that John Pielmeier, who has adapted The Exorcist for the stage, is also the award-winning writer of Broadway hit play and Jane Fonda-led Hollywood film Agnes of God? As The Exorcist returns to the stage at the Theatre Royal Windsor ahead of a new tour, we talked to him about faith, demons and Ian McKellen. Time to get booking!
Shock or schlock? THE EXORCIST – West End ★★★★
It is a complicated logistical exercise to put on stage all the elements familiar from the film, and to deliver them with an authentic sense of menace. Often it works, the bed shaking and 360-degree head rotation are very effective.
THE EXORCIST – West End
With Stage Review’s editor, Anne Cox, still too traumatised from seeing the film as a teenager more than 40 years ago (yes, it’s true – ed), I was packed off, with nerves of steel and crucifix in pocket, into the pitch-black, creaking, dress circle of London’s Phoenix Theatre for The Exorcist.
THE EXORCIST – West End
With Stage Review’s editor, Anne Cox, still too traumatised from seeing the film as a teenager more than 40 years ago (yes, it’s true – ed), I was packed off, with nerves of steel and crucifix in pocket, into the pitch-black, creaking, dress circle of London’s Phoenix Theatre for The Exorcist.
THE EXORCIST – West End
After a premiere in Birmingham last year, Sean Mathias’ production of The Exorcist has resurfaced in the West End in the hope of recreating the chills and thrills of the 1973 movie, despite the fact that it is notoriously difficult to get horror right in the theatre.
Happy Halloween: Clare Louise Connolly talks about playing Regan in The Exorcist
We worked a few scenes during the audition run, including the iconic movie moment where Regan spins her head around. I made sure I told our director Sean Mathias that my neck was extremely flexible!
THE EXORCIST – Birmingham
There’s a well-earned hurrah (or should that be scream?) for this evening of hokum that’s currently playing in Birmingham over the Halloween fortnight. As the audience take their seats the house lights are gradually built up to a full on brightness before plunging the auditorium into a shriek-filled darkness and we’re off.