Paranormal Activity: A terrifyingly clever night at Milton Keynes Theatre

I don't enjoy horror films, I don't like being frightened and, frankly, I quite enjoy knowing that my evening at the theatre is going to end with me safely walking back to my car rather than checking over my shoulder every five seconds.

But this is Paranormal Activity – the stage show from Paramount Pictures, inspired by the hugely successful film franchise – and curiosity got the better of me.

So, with some trepidation, I took my seat at Milton Keynes Theatre.

And I'm very glad I did.

So, what's the story?

This isn't a retelling of one of the films. Instead, Paranormal Activity brings a completely new story to the stage, written by Levi Holloway and directed by Felix Barrett.

Newlyweds James and Lou have moved from Chicago to London in the hope of leaving their past behind and starting a new life together. James is the sceptic; Lou is far more willing to believe that something supernatural could be at play.

Unfortunately for both of them, their new home doesn't exactly offer the fresh start they were hoping for.

Small things begin to happen. Then things become harder to explain. And as the tension builds, you're left wondering whether the couple are dealing with something supernatural – or something much closer to home.

Prepare to be scared

If you're expecting theatre to make horror feel less frightening, think again.

In fact, I'm not sure I've ever been quite so aware of the people sitting around me.

The clever thing about Paranormal Activity is that it doesn't rely on constant, obvious jump scares. Instead, it builds the tension slowly, allowing your imagination to do a lot of the work. A sound here, a movement there, something that perhaps shouldn't have happened – and suddenly you're watching the stage with a completely different level of concentration.

And then there are the illusions.

Honestly, some of them were insane.

The production cleverly combines lighting, sound, video and illusion to create an atmosphere that is genuinely unsettling, but the illusion work takes things to another level. Kudos to Chris Fisher, Illusions Designer, and Spooky Nyman, Illusions Associate – and yes, that really is a brilliant name for someone working on a show like this.

There are moments when something happens on stage that you simply cannot explain. No obvious trick, no warning, no chance to work out how it has happened.

I'll say no more.

Because half the fun is not knowing what's coming.

The cast

The cast may be small, with just four actors at the centre of the story, but every one of them is excellent.

James Bye is particularly impressive as James, bringing just the right amount of scepticism to a character who finds himself increasingly unable to explain away what is happening around him.

Hannah Sinclair Robinson is equally compelling as Lou, giving us a character who feels believable, emotionally invested and increasingly caught up in events she can't control.

The chemistry between Bye and Sinclair Robinson is a real strength of the production. As the story becomes more unsettling, their performances keep it grounded in something recognisable – a relationship between two people trying to work out what is happening to them.

Jo Castleton and Caroline Faber complete the central cast, and the four actors work brilliantly together to create a story that feels much more like a psychological thriller than a simple collection of horror tricks.

And that is one of the things I enjoyed most.

There is a proper story here.

It's clever – and seriously unsettling

What makes Paranormal Activity work so well on stage is that it understands something very important about being frightened.

You don't need to see everything.

Actually, sometimes it's far more frightening when you don't.

The production leaves just enough to your imagination, allowing the audience to fill in the gaps. And when you're already expecting something to happen, your brain starts playing tricks on you.

I found myself watching the stage, then watching the stage again, wondering whether I'd actually seen something move.

That's the beauty of it.

And what about this self-confessed wimp?

Well, I survived.

I may have jumped.

I may have grabbed the person next to me at one point.

And I may have spent a little more time than usual thinking about exactly what was going on around me once the lights went up.

But I genuinely enjoyed it.

In fact, I'd go as far as saying that being a bit of a wimp probably made me enjoy it more. I was completely invested in the story, waiting for the next noise, movement or unexplained occurrence.

And that's what theatre should do – make you feel something.

Paranormal Activity certainly does that.

Should you see it?

If you're a horror fan, I suspect you'll absolutely love it.

If, like me, you're not normally a horror person, don't automatically write it off.

Yes, it is creepy. Yes, there are jump scares. Yes, there were moments when I questioned why I'd willingly put myself through this.

But it's also incredibly clever, atmospheric and brilliantly staged, with a fantastic small cast, two standout central performances and illusion work that genuinely left me wondering how on earth they had done it.

Just don't blame me if you leave Milton Keynes Theatre and suddenly decide you need to turn every light on when you get home.

Paranormal Activity is at Milton Keynes Theatre from 15–19 September 2026.