BWW Interviews: Andy Nyman & Jeremy Dyson Talk GHOST STORIES Premiere

Ghost Stories is a new kind of theatre experience for Toronto, a show that promises to entertain and scare while also providing a genuine night out at the theatre. Nominated for a Best Entertainment Olivier Award in the UK, the 80 minute production has broken box office records on its opening at Liverpool Playhouse and the Lyric Hammersmith. Now playing on the West End, the show is making its North American Premiere in Toronto this month with its gala opening night on April 12th.

Ghost Stories was conceived by the dark minds of The League of Gentlemen's Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman (co-creator and director of Derren Brown's television and stage shows and star of Dead Set and Severance). BWW spoke with the dynamic duo when they arrived in Toronto for the opening in an attempt to get a better idea of what Toronto is in store for when the screaming begins:

Congratulations on the North American Premiere of Ghost Stories! Is this your first time in Toronto?

JD: It's the first time for me, not for Andy!

AN: I came for the press event that announced Ghost Stories in the winter, and I have family here so I've been here a few times. I was also here with TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) a few years back when a film I was in was in the festival (Severance).

So you guys are known primarily for film, comedy and magic - why theatre and why now?

AN: The main draw was that we've been friends since we were fifteen and we've never worked together. We've always talked about it but never done it. A few years ago we came up with an idea to do a theatre show together inspired by The Vagina Monologues. And we have had a common bond for many years in our love for the horror genre.

I hadn't done theatre for about ten years because I had grown frustrated with it, but then I went back and saw an excellent play called Moonlight and Magnolias which was directed by Sean Holmes and it rekindled my excitement with theatre. Also, The Woman in Black has been playing for around 23 years in the West End, and it occurred to me that it was very much like having only one comedy, or one drama. We needed more of these stories.

Plus as a business model, The Vagina Monologues was really impressive. Here was an amazing show that is just three women on stools talking and it has become a worldwide phenomenon. So I pitched the idea of something like that combined with the horror genre to the guys.

Shortly after I spoke with Sean he became Artistic Director of a brilliant London theatre called the Lyric Hammersmith. He phoned me up on his first day there and said that he wanted to do it. We went to see him, and it got commissioned and programmed. That was a master stroke on Sean's part, because it made sure that we HAD to do it. The rest is history.

Andy, you mention that you had become frustrated with theatre. What caused that?

AN: It was really a two fold thing. As an actor I got frustrated with the rehearsal process in that it seemed like it was a lot of directors spending so much time talking and actors spending too much time doing everything but actually acting. I'm very much a ‘let's get right to it' kinda guy which made film the perfect medium for me. It's insanely expensive so there isn't time to sit and dwell on everything.

The other part was the cost. I've always loved theatre and try and take my family, but we are a family of four, and I found that even if we went to a ‘cheap' show it would still end up costing between 150 - 300 pounds which is basically a mortgage payment. And more often than not, I was disappointed with what I saw. I would feel short-changed by a production that was too long, a bit dull and more often than not didn't seem to actually care about entertaining the audience.

It seems that too often theatre seems to be more about espousing some other ideal or agenda instead of actually entertaining the audience. Jeremy and I are both keen on making sure that a show really delivers for an audience. We want to give them an experience, a unique night out and have them leaving feeling like they really got bang for their buck. We want it to be the best night at the theatre they've ever had, the best play they've ever seen AND the best experience they've ever had. When you set the bar high like that you aspire to keep aiming high and produce a great show.

One thing that I noticed while preparing for this interview is how little information is out there about what happens in the show. As one journalist put it, ‘The First Rule of Ghost Stories is that you don't talk about Ghost Stories.' One thing I have heard is that people are not permitted to leave once the show starts.  Is this true? Once you're in are you really "in"?

JD: Sort of. When it premiered in the UK we had a bit of a problem with people leaving throughout the show. Not because they didn't like it but because of the intensity of it. They would go to the loo, or go and get drinks and come back. It was a bit frustrating, so we put this ruling in, that once you enter you stay for the show. It adds to the side-show element of it in a way. It's like the warnings on the posters - they are real warnings but they also serve to build excitement and add to the overall experience.

So what happens if someone is really scared? Can they leave? Have you had people really panic?

AN: We have! We have had people cry and even have full-on panic attacks. It's very strange in a way. We don't have exact numbers obviously, but we estimate that about 40-45 percent of our audience have never been to the theatre before. One of the great things about that is that they bring a completely different energy. It can also be challenging though because you get a bit of that ‘don't you know how to behave in a theatre?' attitude from other people. That is part of why we put the ruling in that people can't leave, to get them out of the mindset that they are at a movie or something. But of course, if someone needs to leave they can.

JD: It's more of a principle, we are asking the audience to show a bit of discipline. It's only an 80 minute show - stay and watch the whole thing. Really experience it.

Of all the places to take Ghost Stories, why did you choose Toronto?

AN: Well the Mirvish's have been really amazing. When you start doing shows around the world you realize what a great reputation they have. People really adore working with them. They are a company that genuinely love theatre and it's not just about making money for them. They want to do exciting and different things and that is wonderful to people like us.

Also, our UK Producer Phil Mcintyre worked with them before on We Will Rock You and had a great experience. So he brought them to the UK to see the show and they loved it. Now we have this great sense of letting the show grow for a North American audience, and we get to hear what it sounds like with new voices and also get to experience it in a city that loves theatre and embraces it whole-heartedly.

Toronto is known for loving theatre, but we are also known as a very discerning town and are used to more traditional theatre going experiences. How do you think Ghost Stories will play to a more traditional audience?

AN: One of the great things about Ghost Stories is that it was nominated for Best Entertainment Olivier Award which is an amazing achievement - it is acknowledgement that the show is worthy of being a really great play in addition to a fun experience.

JD: In many ways it is a traditional and well made play disguised as something else. Disguised as this scary experience. That's a great thing for Andy and myself, because we know that it's a well done piece of theatre.

AN: We hear from all kinds of theatre goers who go and see all the shows in the West End and have given Ghost Stories a try. They adore it. In fact, they love it so much they have kept it a secret for us so that other people can experience the surprise. If it were rubbish people would likely say that, and spoil the show! Our goal is to give people something where they will want to tell their friends that they have to check it out and experience it for themselves. Also, when you think about the show it's pretty amazing. This is a brand new play that has been going in the UK for a year and has lasted for ten months on the West End in a time where theatre is suffering because of the economy. It's not sold on any star names, it is all being marketed on tremendous word of mouth.

What has the buzz been like in Toronto so far?

AN: It's been great! In fact, the first person we saw in Toronto had heard of it. When we arrived at Passport Control they asked us why we were here, and when we told them it was for Ghost Stories, the woman said that her coworker had seen it and ‘it scared the bejesus out of her!' We LOVE hearing stuff like that, it was a great welcome to the city.

You guys have made great use of social media like YouTube and Twitter to promote this show, what do you think of sites like that as marketing tools for theatre?

JD: It's worked like a dream! We never had a lot of money to market this show, so we figured we could use Twitter to spread the word. Same with putting the trailer up on YouTube, we are thrilled with the response.

AN: The great thing about this kind of marketing is that it's extremely difficult to manipulate. You can't fake this kind of word of mouth. Also, horror is a genre that is traditionally disliked by critics, there is almost a snobbery that has to be overcome. That's why social media has been so wonderful. In the UK we even include tweets on our advertisements in addition to the four star reviews from recognized publications. And that wasn't done to be cool and savvy about being online - but rather to show our audience that their opinion matters to us just as much as official reviews. So no question that social media has been a remarkably powerful tool that over the next few years will likely continue to grow and grow.

Finally, what would you say to the scaredy cats out there? Should they come and see the show, or is it better that they heed the warning and stay away?

JD: Well, I don't like fairground rides, but I enjoy them as soon as I'm on them. I think our show is a bit like that, it's scary but it's not The Exorcist. The spirit of the show is fun and it's also funny. I think people will have a great time.

AN: Plus there's no blood and guts or anything like that. We are knocking on almost 400 performances in London and one thing I've noticed is that people enter the theatre timid and nervous, but they come out buzzing about the show. In the end it's all about the energy and having a certain joie de vivre - plus it's funny, clever and great entertainment.

When and Where?
Ghost Stories
The Panasonic Theatre

Now on Stage!

Performance Schedule:
Tue 7:30pm; Wed 1:30 & 7:30pm
Thu / Fri 7:30pm
Sat 5 & 8:30pm
Sun 3pm & 7pm

Show is 80 minutes with no intermission.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.mirvish.com/ghoststories or at www.ghoststoriestoronto.com and by phone at 416-872-1212

$25 Lottery "Scream Seats"

18 seats are available each day for all performances, at $25 each (cash only) by lottery. Patrons can enter the lottery two hours prior to each performance, with a limit of one entry per person. The draw will begin 1 ½ hours prior to showtime. Photo ID is required.

Please note Ghost Stories does have a warning of being appropriate for ages 14+, and those with a nervous disposition are cautioned.

 

 

You can follow Ghost Stories on twitter at @ghoststoriesTO  Andy Nyman @andynyman and Jeremy Dyson @dysonjeremy