thriller – Review Wizard

As a young wizard I vividly remember passing Alita Lee’s fortune-telling shack in Whitby, and being intrigued by the exotic mysteries within. The juxtaposition of British seaside town and Romany spiritualism is the unique setting for The Psychic, a new play at York Theatre Royal by Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson.

This will be one of my less detailed reviews, and with good reason…the less you know going into the show, the better. We’re encouraged to ‘keep the secrets’ and this reviewer will remain tight-lipped.

The plot follows renowned psychic Sheila Gold, down on her luck after being exposed as a charlatan with an earpiece. She embarks on a new stage tour to try recoup some money, and credibility, but struggles to cope with the accusations.

Distant cousin Tara arrives keen to learn the art of of dukkering, a form of Romany fortune telling. Sheila takes her under her wing and the pair soon start running home readings. Things take a dark turn when wealthy clients offer sizeable donations for seances, and expect contact before cash, proof before payment. But, is any of it real?

Fans of spook shows might be curious how this compares to, say, Ghost Stories, 2:22 A Ghost Story or The Woman in Black. There are some wonderfully crafted scares here, but it’s less a ghost story and more a creeping thriller. The tension builds slowly but cleverly, and we’re drawn in by the intriguing story and stellar performances.

Protagonist Sheila Gold (Eileen Walsh) switches effortlessly from sweet-talking stage psychic to down and out dukkerer. Hitting the bottle and pills, she questions everything she believes in. It’s a solid performance throughout, and Walsh shows real variety too.

Megan Placito is believable as a teenager trying to better herself, and we feel for her lack of self worth. She’s instrumental in uncovering the twists and turns too. Smug radio DJ Robert Hamm is played by Dave Hearn, of The Play That Goes Wrong. The kind of presenter who gets under your skin, he grates (but is…great!)

Frances Barber’s Rosa is a triumph, and gets some of the biggest laughs of the night with her acid tongue and dry wit. Sitcom fans may recognise her from The IT Crowd and Friday Night Dinner, but it’s a joy to see her on stage – and she relishes every moment.

Deepak and Nisha (Jaz Singh Deol and Nikita Lesler) embody the grieving couple, desperate for one last goodbye with daughter Amara. Audience members have the opportunity to become part of the action too – with the opportunity to make contact through Sheila via requests dropped in a box pre-show.

Rae Smith’s set design is first rate. We’re treated to everything from a battered seaside caravan, neon-lit studio and creepy old house. A Spanish villa that appears almost from nowhere is a highlight, with it’s towering staircase and continental plants trailing the walls.

No spoilers here but there are some clever theatrical tricks and effects courtesy of Chris Fisher, who conjured up the magic for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Fisher keeps things simple, in a good way. Everything works as it should and the effects gel perfectly with the narrative.

Nyman and Dyson have worked a special kind of magic here too, as writers and directors. The writing is sharp, engaging and like nothing else I’ve seen. Peering into the future, I see The Psychic touring and becoming a long-running hit like other stage thrillers.

A standing ovation from this enraptured audience, and you don’t need to be psychic to work out why.

Solid gold, gaze into your crystal ball and book today!