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Review of Paranormal Activity at Milton Keynes Theatre

The low-budget film Paranormal Activity, first released in 2007, has since become the starting point of one of the most prolific horror series ever, with seven films now released in the franchise and another due next year. Its unique down-to-earth style of storytelling, inhabiting what is many people’s real life, with dangers within the house, has contributed greatly to its success. So, from one successful medium franchise, it is no surprise the series was developed for theatre in 2024, with a new story by Levi Holloway (though it borrows heavily from the original film). First performed at Leeds Playhouse before heading to both the West End and Broadway, and now, for 2026, a UK and Ireland tour, which this week arrives at Milton Keynes Theatre. So the question is: has the medium successfully crossed to the other side?
Newly married couple, James and Lou, move from Chicago to London in an attempt to escape both of their past lives. However, as events begin to repeat themselves, they realise the supernatural tends to follow you wherever you run.
Paranormal Activity feels immensely natural, with conversation between James (James Bye) and Lou (Hannah Sinclair Robinson) being some of the most normal chat in many a recent play. This helps, over the first twenty minutes or so, create comfort in the audience before this normal world begins to break down.
Only the conversation allows this, however, as director Felix Barrett has already created discomfort at the very beginning with a prolonged, total blackout, where all the terrors in anyone's mind are allowed to breed. From this, we shift to a slightly nervy but still very normal way of life for our two main players. Their attempts to move away from past troubles - James with a new job in London, and Lou continuing her remote role feel normal. So does the presence of James’s mother, who seems to have an overbearing presence in his life, which he is perhaps wise to try to escape. So, with domesticity sometimes feeling normal, the arrival of the fully expected supernatural feels creepier since it could happen in any of our homes.
James Bye plays James in a suitably contrasting way, evolving from a confident, somewhat cocky, and dismissive attitude towards Lou's behaviour to something very different once he can no longer deny what he's seeing. His chemistry with Hannah Sinclair Robinson as Lou is superb, and their relationship feels natural and believable throughout, even when events become difficult to bear. Robinson is equally strong, portraying the breakdown and challenges of both Lou’s past and present in a stark way. We feel her pain, especially early on when we know the things are real, but James refuses, or cannot, believe them.
Caroline Faber also provides excellent support as the domineering mother eager to come over and help her son and his new wife in their new life, and she serves as a constant reminder of James's hidden past. Jo Castleton also delivers a brief but animated performance as paranormal investigator Etheline Cotgrave, arriving at what becomes a pivotal moment in James and Lou’s lives.
Technically, Paranormal Activity is superb, using every stage trick in the book to unnerve and thrill the audience. Chris Fisher’s illusions keep the audience guessing what might happen next, and he brings some big, immensely clever moments to the stage. Anna Watson’s lighting design works side by side brilliantly with these illusions to create a creepy atmosphere, full of menacing shadows and further keeping the audience on edge as they were sure they saw something then, or did they?
Further unease comes from excellent sound design by Gareth Fry and Luke Halls's incredibly clever video design. Together with one of the most detailed touring sets from Fly Davis, these elements complete a masterpiece from the show's creatives.
Paranormal Activity is one of the best horror/thriller shows currently touring, creating an excellent atmosphere of dread rather than relying totally on jump scares. Sometimes less is more, and here the show does just the right amount to create an excellent show woven around a clever and ultimately fulfilling storyline. I fully enjoyed the ride, and I highly recommend this show if it comes near you on tour, or if you can catch it in London while it remains on stage at the Ambassadors Theatre.

A technical masterpiece filled with chills aplenty.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Tuesday 15th September 2026 at the Milton Keynes Theatre.

Paranormal Activity runs at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday, 19th September 2026, before continuing its tour.

For further details about Milton Keynes Theatre, see their website at https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/

For further details of the tour, see the website at https://paranormalonstage.com/uk-ireland-tour/


Photographs: Johan Persson
(Images represent the London production portraying alternative casting.)



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