Arnold Ridley's vintage thriller set in 1920s Cornwall pulled into the Manor Pavilion Theatre and took the audience along for an exciting ride!

Six passengers find themselves stranded in the waiting room of a railway station late at night. They include a newly wed couple, warring partners on the verge of divorce, an eccentric elderly spinster and an annoying buffoon.

For a classic theatrical ghost story to work achieving the right atmosphere is key and the production team has certainly delivered the goods. The dingy, cheerless waiting room created by set designer Andrew Beckett has an authentic feel whilst also giving a sense of foreboding about what might be lurking out on the platform or coming down the track. The lighting and sound effects by Jo Underwood also deserve a special mention. Whether it's ghostly singing or the eerie shriek of the train itself, they do an excellent job of racking up the tension.

James Pellow provides a masterful turn as station master Saul Hodgkin, warning the travellers against staying the night and regaling them with a terrible story of a train crash which killed 6 passengers and left the station forever haunted. The travellers dismiss his tale, but as the night unfolds a series of unsettling events causes them to question their scepticism.

The talented and committed cast tell the story with energy and pace. Daniele Coombe gives a delightful performance as elderly spinster Miss Bourne, especially when she becomes tipsy after downing the contents of Teddy's hip flask of brandy and hints at a more thrilling past than her current appearance might suggest.

The Ghost Train is atmospheric rendition of a classic tale – get on board for a nostalgic and enjoyable evening.

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