A Pleasing Terror - Ghost Stories for A Winter’s Night

A Pleasing Terror- Ghost stories for a Winter’s Night

by M.R James and adapted by Robert Hamilton

After the benevolent spirits of Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’, we raise some slightly more vengeful ghosts to be found in the classic English ghost story. Winter has always been a time to gather round the light and tell spooky tales, from the master of the form, M. R. James unveiling a new ghost story to his Cambridge students on Christmas Eve to the literary saloons of Edwardian clubs. Join us as we invite some delightfully creepy spirits from a variety of authors to chill and entertain. As M.R. James himself wrote:

"Let us, then, be introduced to the actors in a placid way; let us see them going about their ordinary business, undisturbed by forebodings, pleased with their surroundings; and into this calm environment let the ominous thing put out its head, unobtrusively at first, and then more insistently, until it holds the stage...”

Robert Hamilton

Usually more comfortable onstage than directing actors on it, Robert directed, ‘Nigel Slater’s Toast’ for Lewes Little Theatre in 2025. Elsewhere, he has directed musicals from ‘Moll Flanders’ to ‘The King and I’ and for many years co-directed an annual Shakespeare play for his own company, ‘Rough Mechanicals’. Robert directed ‘84 Charing Cross Road’ for Dorking Dramatic and Operatic Society. Robert has also adapted ‘Dracula’ and 'The Hound of the Baskervilles’ for Lewes Little Theatre, has presented evenings of ‘The Canterbury Tales’ and M. R. James’ stories in a dramatic form as fund raisers. He has adapted two of Terry Pratchett’s short stories for Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Conventions and most recently created a 90-minute comedy based on Dracula for performances in the UK and Germany.


Accessibility

Stalls:

Lewes Little Theatre is committed to making your theatre experience as accessible as possible with the following features in our small but perfectly formed theatre,

• There are limited number of Wheelchair spaces or *Transfer seats available in the Stalls for every performance.
• Access seats need to be booked directly with the theatre box office, as the box office team knows the layout and facilities and can book the best seats for you.
• Lewes Little Theatre operates a free scheme for those who need an Essential Companion to be with them at a show to assist them. Essential Companion tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01273 474826.

The theatre would be extremely grateful if audience members with additional needs arrive in plenty of time for each performance, as the auditorium’s configuration means late comers cannot always be adequately accommodated.

*Audience members are expected to transfer to a seat without assistance from the theatre’s volunteers, either by themselves or with assistance from their companion. 

Gallery:

Our gallery provides seating for 59 people with the following features: -

• Access to the gallery is by a main stairway and a series of steps in the space itself. It therefore may not be the best option for those with any condition which may make access/egress from the area difficult, especially in the event of an emergency evacuation.
• If an audience member would have difficulty in climbing or descending the stairs in an emergency, we would politely ask them to book seats in the Stalls.
• Seat bookings in the Gallery are accepted on this basis and that audience members have assessed their own accessibility to this area of the theatre.

A safety rail is in place in the Gallery and your view may be slightly restricted as a result.

Please direct queries about access to [email protected]