REVIEW: THE GRIM by Edmund Morris at Old Red Lion Theatre 7 – 18 January 2025

‘Along with thrilling moments and surprising twists, the belly laughs come thick and fast.’ ★★★★

First performed at Underbelly, Edinburgh Festival, the play enjoyed a sell-out success. Now, the play has transferred to Old Red Lion in Islington it is another triumph for the cast and creatives involved.  The venue couldn’t be more perfect for the show, with a history dating back to the 1400s, it is rumoured to be haunted, furthermore, the quirky shape of the playing space is used to its best advantage. 

Beautifully crafted by director Ben Woodhall, this tongue in cheek horror comedy is set in 60s East End of London, which gives it the timeless quality of a classic.  It opens with Cockney undertaker Shaun (Edmund Morris) at work in the funeral home’s mortuary, which inducts us into the context. Enter assistant, Robert (Louis Davison), a superstitious Irishman from whom we learn the story of The Grim. If you ever see one, your life is in danger. There is no shortage of gallows humour between the pair as they discuss the terrible homicide of three young women and a copper. Their horror fascination is sparked by the anticipation of the serial killer, Jackie Gallagher (Harry Carter), arriving on the slab having been shot in the face.  The horror begins. 

The arrival of the dead man, complete with a small gunshot wound, is extremely well achieved. There are plenty of moment in the play when the audience must suspend their disbelief, but this is not particularly one of them, it is a powerfully shocking moment which continues to thrill.  Along with some surprising twists in the play, the belly laughs come thick and fast. Who would have thought that life and death would hinge on the small matter of a bag of sweets, in particular the strawberry bootlaces.  Who wouldn’t have thought that the undertakers should just get the hell out of there, but of course they don’t, and that sets up a nice little feeling of conflict. 

The actors have absolute commitment to their roles and pull off quite a tricky balance between serious and humorous without losing their grip on the audience. They are helped by the design elements which give the play an immersive feel. The set is a chilling white mortician’s room, which is sometimes suffused with sound, adding a note of fear, and the lighting effects which enhance the drama at key moments.  It requires attention to detail to pull it off in performance, perfectly achieved by technician Joe Hawkings and technical manager Ali Day. 

It’s clearly a show for enthusiasts of thrillers, or ghost stories, or horror stories. It’s not going to raise a lot of conversation, but it is jolly good fun and a perfect fit for the oddities of the Old Red Lion Theatre. 

THE GRIM by Edmund Morris

Old Red Lion Theatre until 18 January 2025

Box Office

Cast

Edmund Morris

Louis Davison

Harry Carter

Creatives 

Ben Woodhall – Director

Joe Hawkings – Technician

Hiba Medina – Costume and props

Fergus Carver – Sound design

Ali Day – Technical manager