PILGRIMAGE by Jack Robertson at Old Red Lion 22-25 Oct 2024

"Instead of reading the bible we're reading Reddit" ★★★★★ 

Housed at the historic Old Red Lion Theatre, GrimFest is a theatre festival celebrating the macabre which offers an eclectic range of horror themed plays and "Pilgrimage" is one of its highlights.

One stormy night an arrogant American podcaster wannabe and his colleague show up at "Pilgrims Rest", a reputedly haunted house and home to the odd murder, feigning that their car has broken down in order to gain access to the isolated cottage. Put up for the night by the disgruntled house owner's daughter and her wheelchair bound mother, the evening soon takes a sinister turn, but who's playing whom?

"Pilgrimage" strikes that rare balance of horror and comedy perfectly. It cleverly employs comedy to alleviate the heavier moments without letting it derail the horror. It has a fantastically morbid backstory, the breadcrumbs of which are subtly and artfully dropped, which leads to a satisfying and gory finale.

It boasts a formidable cast, a tight script and possesses an impressively eerie soundscape which amplifies the tension - from a constant howling wind to creaking floorboards and audio snippets of true crime podcasts and interviews with former inhabitants of "Pilgrims Rest". A savvy utilisation of lighting drew out the moments of horror to their fullest but also played on the comedic moments with equal finesse. The clincher is its naturalistic approach, menacing atmosphere and the shifting power dynamics between the characters. 

There is something particularly unnerving about watching horror live, especially when it's done well. In the intimate space of The Old Red Lion Theatre it feels almost immersive. The disconcertingly convincing performances of Diane Axford as Maggie and Gabrielle Beasley as Faye were particularly terrifying at close range. 

"Pilgrimage" fits many of horror's cornerstone principles, but does so with a modern twist and skilful staging that makes it feel fresh. This is the kind of horror I want more of - effective, disturbing and intelligent. As the GrimFest goes from strength to strength, "Pilgrimage" is the kind of play that sets the bar.

Box Office: https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/pilgrimage.html

Presented by Medium Rare Productions

Full Cast & Crew:

Maggie - Diane Axford
Faye - Gabi Beasley
Nel - Shani Gray
Cody - Harry Al-Adwani

Written & Directed by Jack Robertson
Co-Director & Production Co-ordinator Benedict Esdale



Other voices provided by Hannah Fretwell, Stacey Evans, Daniel Hetherington, Calum Shiels, Alice Marshall & Benedict Esdale.