The History of Horror in Theatre: Why On-Stage Scares Can Be More Chilling than the Cinema
Introduction
Horror is a long-standing and popular genre in cinema, often produced on low budgets but achieving high box office returns.
Theatrical horror is less common, with a shorter list of successful plays compared to films.
Notable Plays in Horror
The Woman in Black: Based on Susan Hill's book, notable for being the second longest-running play in London’s West End.
Ghost Stories: By British playwright Andy Nyman.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson's novella.
2:22 A Ghost Story: Written by Danny Robins.
Theatre vs. Cinema
Theatre provides a unique experience of horror by bringing audiences closer to the 'danger'.
Horror on stage can make the danger feel more real compared to cinema.
Historical Context of Horror in Theatre
Greek Tragedy and Elizabethan Era
Ancient Greek plays often included horror elements, with themes of the supernatural, myths, and monsters.
Shakespeare's Macbeth and Titus Andronicus are classic examples of horror with supernatural and violent themes.
Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy influenced Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Japanese Theatre
Kabuki and Noh, traditional forms of Japanese theatre, frequently explored horror themes, influencing modern Japanese horror films.
European Theatre
Le Theatre du Grand-Guignol in Paris was known for graphic horror performances, akin to modern splatter films.
Challenges and Successes
Horror plays often struggle to transition from film to stage; examples include failures like Evil Dead The Musical and the Broadway flop, Carrie.
Successful horror plays like Arthur Miller's The Crucible and William Archibald's The Innocents demonstrate live theatre’s potential to amplify horror.
Conclusion
Despite being less common, theatrical horror provides a unique and visceral experience that cinema does not easily replicate.
Successful horror on stage plays on the audience's deepest fears, enhancing the sense of real danger.