Written by acclaimed playwright Levi Holloway and directed by Felix Barrett, the visionary director behind Punchdrunk, Paranormal Activity is based on the hit film franchise originally created by Oren Peli and brought to the screen by Blumhouse and Solana Films.
The spine-chilling production will star James Bye (2:22, UK Tour; BBC One’s EastEnders) as James, Hannah Sinclair Robinson (The Play That Goes Wrong, West End; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, National Theatre, UK and Ireland Tour) as Lou, Jo Castleton (War Horse, National Theatre, National and International Tour) as Etheline Cotgrave, and Caroline Faber (Network and The Heiress, National Theatre) as Carolanne.
Opening in Milton Keynes from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 September, the supernatural thriller will tour towns and cities across the UK and Ireland through to May 2027, giving audiences nationwide the opportunity to experience the haunting phenomenon that has captivated West End audiences. Originally developed at Leeds Playhouse, the production also returns to London’s Ambassadors Theatre this summer, where it reopens on Tuesday 11 August and will run alongside the tour following its fourth extension.
Praised for its inventive storytelling and terrifying atmosphere, Paranormal Activity is a must-see for theatre lovers and thrill-seekers alike. Following its premiere at Leeds Playhouse and a successful first West End run at the Ambassadors Theatre from Friday 5 December 2025 to Saturday 25 April 2026, the production has continued to build momentum with audiences and critics alike.
Paranormal Activity began a North American tour last autumn, visiting venues including Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington DC, and American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. The production makes its Canadian premiere at Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre this June, followed by a run at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theater in July, before embarking on a 20-week Broadway season.
Inspired by the worldwide horror phenomenon, Paranormal Activity features a brand-new story written by playwright Levi Holloway, whose acclaimed thriller Grey House chilled Broadway audiences. The production is directed by immersive theatre pioneer Felix Barrett, Founder and Artistic Director of Punchdrunk.
James and Lou move from Chicago to London to leave their past behind, only to discover that places aren’t haunted, people are. Inspired by the hugely popular Paranormal Activity film series, this gripping stage adaptation brings an entirely new story to life. Following a sell-out and extended London run, the production now embarks on its first-ever UK and Ireland tour, promising audiences a nerve-shredding experience from beginning to end. Hold your nerve...
Blurring the line between cinema and live theatre, Paranormal Activity has been hailed as a “relentlessly frightening – arm-clutchingly, stranger-embracingly so” (Metro) theatrical experience, leaving audiences jumping from their seats and questioning what may be lurking in the darkness long after the curtain falls.
‘A night that leaves you spellbound. Jaw-clenchingly, arm-clutchingly thrilling’
The Guardian
Paranormal Activity reimagines the modern ghost story with an unsettling intimacy only live theatre can provide. Immersing audiences in an atmosphere of creeping dread, unseen forces and psychological tension, Levi Holloway’s script offers a bold reinterpretation of the original, blending domestic horror with mind-bending theatricality. Felix Barrett, renowned for breaking down the barriers between audience and performer, brings his distinctive visionary style to the production. Through innovative staging and chilling sound design, Paranormal Activity invites audiences to witness the inexplicable up close — and experience the fear in real time.
The creative team includes Fly Davis as Set and Costume Designer, Chris Fisher as Illusions Designer, Anna Watson as Lighting Designer, Gareth Fry as Sound Designer, Luke Halls as Video Designer, and Ginny Schiller CDG as Casting Director.
‘A chilling evening: a cracking ghost story so skilfully delivered that it might follow you home.’
Financial Times
Released by Paramount Pictures in 2009, the original Paranormal Activity became a masterclass in psychological terror. Reimagining the found-footage genre for a new generation, the film grossed nearly $200 million worldwide and launched a blockbuster franchise spanning seven feature films. Now, its legacy of fear arrives on stage, bringing the terrifying phenomenon into the intimate world of live theatre.
'Will I be scared? Yes. How scared? Very. Cleverly, too.'
Chicago Tribune
Paranormal Activity is produced by Simon Friend and Hanna Osmolska for Melting Pot, in association with Gavin Kalin, Ken Davenport, Jenny King, Patrick Gracey, Jonathan and Rae Corr, and Leeds Playhouse.
Age recommendation: 15+
Performances run at 
Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 September. Tickets are available now.
