The Haunting (NHB Modern Plays)

By Charles Dickens

A spine-chilling play by Hugh Janes, based on several original ghost stories by Charles Dickens.
In an ancient, crumbling mansion, sheltering from the howling winds that tear across the surrounding desolate moorland, two men stumble across a dark and terrifying secret that will change both of their lives.
When a young book dealer, David Filde, is employed by a former associate of his uncle to catalogue a private library, he finds an incredible array of rare and antiquated books. But as a series of strange and unexplained events conspires to keep Filde from his work, he realises that if he is to convince his sceptical employer that the mysterious phenomena he is experiencing are real, they must journey together to the very edge of terror, and beyond...
The play offers rich material for amateur theatre companies or student groups who want to introduce their audiences to another side of Dickens' work - and have them jump out of their seats at the same time.
'The Haunting revels in the old-fashioned power of simple theatrical tricks, and basks in the shrieks and gasps of an audience that is clearly part of the event'- Scotsman
'Great pace and terrific suspense... guaranteed to raise goosebumps'- Maidenhead Advertiser
'Gripping... and fascinating too'- British Theatre Guide

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Sep 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781780014968

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. Regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, Dickens had a prolific collection of works including fifteen novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories and articles. The term “cliffhanger endings” was created because of his practice of ending his serial short stories with drama and suspense. Dickens’ political and social beliefs heavily shaped his literary work. He argued against capitalist beliefs, and advocated for children’s rights, education, and other social reforms. Dickens advocacy for such causes is apparent in his empathetic portrayal of lower classes in his famous works, such as The Christmas Carol and Hard Times.

Book preview

ACT ONE

The study of an ancient manor house.

Books and objets d’art fill the dusty shelves. On one side is a large fireplace with shelves either side. A door leads to an antechamber (off). Opposite, a door leads to a corridor and the rest of the house. A bare tree is seen outside the French windows, upstage centre. It is night: the wind howls.

A lamp flickers beyond the window. Horses whinny, their hooves resound in a courtyard as they turn and draw a carriage and the light away. DAVID, asleep in a wing chair, wakes with a start, pulls his coat back round him and returns to sleep. A distant door creaks and slams. Footsteps echo along the corridor, then stop outside.

LORD GRAY enters with an oil lamp and looks about before seeing DAVID.

GRAY. There you are, young man.

DAVID wakes and stands, shivering.

DAVID. Lord Gray? Forgive me, sir. I fell asleep.

GRAY. So it seems. Are you cold?

DAVID. I’m freezing, sir.

GRAY. Someone of your age shouldn’t feel a slight