The world premiere stage adaptation of the hit horror film “Paranormal Activity” is set to take place in Leeds, and it’s promising to be a “wildly different” experience from the original movie. Director Felix Barrett and writer Levi Holloway, who are both currently navigating the challenges of parenthood with six-month-old babies, are the creative minds behind this new production. Despite their sleep-deprived states, they are fully immersed in the final preparations for this major new show.
The original “Paranormal Activity” film, released in 2009, terrified audiences by depicting an everyday young couple, Katie and Micah, who were tormented by unexplained forces in their San Diego home. The film’s “found footage” style, supposedly shot entirely on Micah’s video camera, added to its eerie realism. Made on a shoestring budget of just $15,000 (£8,000), the film went on to gross $193 million (£125 million) and spawned a franchise that earned an additional $700 million (£435 million).
However, the stage adaptation is not a straightforward recreation of the film. Barrett and Holloway have been tight-lipped about the specifics, with the theatre’s website offering little more than their names and a cryptic message: “We can’t say anything else.” A trigger warning on the site does hint at “loud noises, sudden darkness, blood and gore with references to mental health.”
Despite the secrecy, Barrett and Holloway have shared a few tantalizing details. “I think we can comfortably say that it’s wildly different than the film,” Holloway reveals. Barrett adds, “Wildly different but I think still familiar. It takes its essence. The events are different, but the texture and the quality is very much inspired by the film because it’s very effective. If people love ‘Paranormal Activity,’ then they’ll bond with this for sure.”
One of the most intriguing aspects of the production is the element of surprise. The theatre has not announced the cast or the characters they will play. When asked if there will be actors portraying Katie and Micah, Barrett responds, “Well, it’s not Katie and Micah for starters. It’s a different couple.” Holloway confirms, “It’s about an American couple who have moved to London, and they’ve brought something with them.” The production will feature a tight-knit ensemble of four cast members, creating an intimate and claustrophobic atmosphere similar to the film.
The action, much like the film, takes place in a haunted house. “All the best ghost stories feature a house. It’s almost the other character,” Barrett notes. This setting, combined with the Anglo-American storyline, suggests an ambition for the show to transfer to the West End and possibly across the Atlantic if it proves successful in Leeds.
The creative partnership between Barrett and Holloway is a blend of their unique backgrounds. Holloway, an American, recently had his spooky play “Grey House” hosted on Broadway, featuring notable actors like Tatiana Maslany, Laurie Metcalf, and Millicent Simmonds. Barrett, on the other hand, is a pioneering British director known for his immersive theatre company Punchdrunk. His innovative approach has earned him accolades, including being hailed as “the visionary who reinvented theatre” by the Observer in 2013.
Barrett’s specialty lies in staging shows in abandoned buildings and other unconventional spaces, where performances unfold around the audience as they move from room to room. However, for “Paranormal Activity,” he has chosen to embrace traditional theatre. “Actually, it was a deliberate choice to respect the machinery of theatre,” he explains. “The simplicity of seeing the story on stage is what drove me to do it, and why I immediately said yes.”
Barrett believes that horror is a necessary genre, especially in today’s world. “I feel like the reason why this wave is coming now is because the world’s become a frightening place and there’s a lot of real tension out there,” he says. “So you get catharsis and escapism from horror, but also it’s a way of safely having those feelings and being a vent for them in a place that you can put them away to the side and then move on with your life.”
Holloway echoes this sentiment, stating that good horror allows audiences to “ask themselves existential questions” in a safe, communal setting. “I think it’s easy to discard what good horror does. I think good horror bonds us,” he says.
Interestingly, Barrett has decided against using cameras and screens on stage, a trend in current theatre. He believes that such techniques can be alienating for the audience. “What we want to do is pull them in, almost too close, so we singe their fingers,” he says, hinting at the immersive and intense experience that awaits the audience.
As Barrett and Holloway continue their final rehearsals, they remain committed to delivering a unique and thrilling adaptation of “Paranormal Activity.” The stage production promises to be a fresh take on the modern horror classic, offering audiences a new way to experience the terror that made the original film so iconic.
“Paranormal Activity” is at Leeds Playhouse until 3 August.
Source: Ian Youngs, Culture reporter, Blumhouse Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock, Moviestore/Shutterstock, BBC
