The Signalman Press Acclaim

“The acting was superb… Chris Walker’s portrayal of The Signalman is layered and deeply human, capturing the slow unravelling of a man trapped by duty and dread. John Burton as the traveller brings warmth and groundedness to the role, a necessary counterbalance to the signalman’s spiralling fear. The Signalman may well become one of the season’s most amazing theatrical performances…tremendous! FIVE STARS *****”
Malvern Gazette

“An abundance of sharp acting… a magnificent creation… extremely impressive… profoundly disturbing… Francis Evelyn’s skilled adaptation of this little known story is a triumph. 5 STARS *****”
Showtime

“The set is a magnificent rendering of a railway cutting at the mouth of a tunnel with a cut-away signal box to one side. Much of the play takes place here, driven by two excellent central performances by Chris Walker as the signalman and John Burton as the traveller. It’s not a two-hander; there are other roles, but the success of the piece hangs on these two….. the success of the piece hangs on these two and they don’t disappoint.”
Eastbourne Reporter

“Prepare to have your levers pushed and nerves shredded by a haunting staging… first class… you will hit the edge of your seat – a lot. The set deserves an ovation… wonderful… heart stopping- and heartily recommended.”
Maidenhead Advertiser

“5 STARS *****”
TheatreandArtsReviews.com

“In the dark, I quickly found myself joining the rest of the audience in shivering at spectral flickers and otherworldly knocks. And it’s that communal, joyous anxiety that is the great pleasure of live theatre: the nervous laughter that ripples through the crowd, the collective gasp at an apparition and the shared dread when the stage falls silent…. A couple of moments were so perfectly timed that I actually jumped, and I definitely wasn’t alone.

Chris Walker’s performance as the Signalman was the standout of the night, carrying the haunted weight of his role with remarkable conviction. I believed every flicker of dread in his solitary moments. And John Burton brought a measured warmth as the Traveller, the steady-handed foil to Walker’s slow unravelling. The supporting cast (Bruce Chattan, James Morley, and Adam Mort) step in with brief, yet memorable, turns that keep the story from feeling locked into a two-hander.

Without question, the set design is the crown jewel of this staging…… In the many moments of uneasy quiet, I found my eyes drifting across the details, half-expecting something to stir in the shadows—and I wasn’t disappointed.

Lynette Webster’s score, reminiscent of classic horror themes, was the perfect accompaniment. It was sparse and haunting and drifted in and out of each scene like a ghost of its own… lighting designer Bob Hodges deserves particular praise for the way he shaped the story.

As the lights came up, I realised I’d been holding my breath throughout the entire final scene. That, for me, is the mark of a successful ghost story. You lean in, listen harder, and inspect the shadows. This production of The Signalman captured that fireside chill with everything I could want: a dark heart and an icy grip. 4.5 STARS”
Northern Arts Review

“Chris Walker and John Burton do a fine job in this wonderfully engrossing and traditional production. The fine acting with a lavish set of extraordinary detail and clever special effects, make it a fascinating yet haunting play that’s well crafted by one of the country’s literary greats. The Signalman is first class theatre that’s wonderfully atmospheric and keeps you guessing right to the end.”
Weekend Notes

“Chris Walker and John Burton both give powerhouse performances. The other cast members also did a sterling job of fleshing out the story in some pivotal scenes with Bruce Chattan as The Inn Keeper, James Morley as The Inspector and Adam Mort as Tom, though their time on stage was small their impact was large. An impressive set courtesy of Michael Lunney … Fantastic Lighting by Bob Hodges… a magnificent score by Lynette Webster. A thoroughly enjoyable work, this stage adaptation is superb… and I heartily recommend this play.”
Fairy Powered Productions

“Impressive… the acting is Top Notch. FIVE STARS *****”
A View From the Stalls

“Imaginative staging and a gifted cast… expect to be shocked in your seat, and to feel your spine tingle.” 
Gloucestershire Echo

“A triumph”
Birmingham Mail

“Has the S Factor – it’s slick, spooky and superb. Special effects are stunning..  a first-class piece of theatre. FIVE STARS”
Wirral Globe

“Filled with forboding…you can’t tear your eyes away. The staging was pitched at just the right level of darkness to completely unnerve the audience.”
Maidenhead Advertiser

“Perfect performances…impressively scary… expertly crafted by the cast and crew, a perfect way to while away a January evening.”
GetWestLondon

“An unsettling treat. 4 STARS”
Liverpool Echo

“Works a treat… the stellar cast put in a top performance”
Whatsonstage

“Excellent sets and a clever synthesis of high tech projection and good old-fashioned stage-craft. Immensely authentic and atmospheric “
Virtual Shropshire

“Expertly executed… genuinely unnerving and skilfully conveyed”
Daily Post

“A well-executed mix of technical wizardry, lighting, costumes and an engrossing performance from the leads… draws to a terrifying crescendo eliciting gasps from the crowd”
North Wales Pioneer

“Ghost stories demand atmosphere and this touring production has it in spades…a lovely piece of classic gothic theatre”
East Angian Daily Times

“A spine-tingling treat… I was jumping out of my seat. It certainly convinced me more than The Woman In Black”
Hemel Hempstead Gazette

“Mesmerising…A challanging transition from page to stage, this contempory portrayal of a traditional tale ultimately proved a triumph… a gripping production”
Life Magazine

“The Devonshire Park hosts many fine performances, but few match the pitch-perfect acting, set design, costumes, lighting design and special effects in this production”
Eastbourne Herald

“To see such acting and such suspense in Eastbourne is a real treat and the test of a good ghost story is to make you go home scared of your own shadow. This production definitely passes the test”
Sussex Express

“Slickly directed… classy… had this been a Broadway show the very impressive set would have received applause when the curtain went up. Michael Lunney deserves to take a bow for this… breathtaking stuff!”
Remotegoat