Spooky tales at Trinty Arts

‘Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’ is a tale of nocturnal horror on the Suffolk coast, while ‘The Ash Tree’ is a story of witchcraft and vengeance down the generations.

Both were written by M R James - generally regarded by critics as the master of English ghost stories.

Every Christmas M R James would write and perform new tales, to entertain friends in his rooms in King’s College, Cambridge.

A century later, these still have a special power to terrify and amuse.

Robert Lloyd Parry recreates James’ entertainments in a truly atmospheric way, illuminated by candlelight and underscored by dread.

‘Oh, Whistle…’ is part of Lloyd Parry’s critically acclaimed M R James Trilogy, which has toured the UK, USA and Ireland since 2006. In 2008 it won The Dracula Society’s presitgious Hamilton Deane Award for Beest Performance in the Gothic Genre.

The Times gave the performance four stars and wrote: “Lloyd Parry is always absorbing, and catches the sense of dread that gives James his originality.”

Meanwhile, Metro wrote: “Lloyd Parry conjures an appropriately séance-like atmosphere for his own beautifully modulated performance, perfectly judged to send an enjoyable chill of terror down down the spine.”

R M Lloyd Parry performs Two Ghost Stories by M R James at Gainsborough’s Trinity Arts Centre on Friday 2nd November. Tickets are £8 - £10 and are available by calling 01427 676655.