John Waters and Daniel MacPherson to star in THE WOMAN IN BLACK

PW Productions, Woodward Productions & Neil Gooding Productions present the most terrifying live theatre experience in the world is returning to Australia this year. The Woman in Black, described by The Guardian as “A Masterpiece” and by the Daily Telegraph (UK) as “The most brilliantly effective spine chiller you will ever encounter”, is the second longest-running play in West End history, after Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.

Susan Hill’s acclaimed ghost story comes dramatically alive in Stephen Mallatratt’s ingenious stage adaptation, a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror. This gripping production will play limited seasons in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Newcastle from May to July.

The Woman in Black will star two of Australia’s most acclaimed actors, John Waters and Daniel MacPherson. With a career spanning 50 years, John Waters is well known for lead roles in the film Breaker Morant and the television series Rush, All the Rivers Run, Rake and his 20-year run on Play School. His prolific stage work includes Hair, Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar in the 1970s, through to the musicals The Rocky Horror Show, They’re Playing Our Song opposite Jackie Weaver and The Sound of Music opposite Lisa McCune. An accomplished musician, John has toured Australia many times with his one-man show Looking Through a Glass Onion. John previously starred across Australia in The Woman in Black in 2006, opposite Brett Tucker.

Daniel MacPherson has conquered film, television and stage roles across the world in a career that has spanned over 25 years. After rising to fame on Neighbours, Daniel spent two years in the UK on the popular TV series The Bill and starred on stage in Godspell alternating in the roles of Jesus and Judas. Internationally, he has starred in the TV series Strike Back, APB, The Shannara Chronicles and Foundation – based on Isaac Asimov’s book series – and his feature film credits include Poker Face, A Wrinkle In Time and the sci-fi films The Osiris Child andInfini. On Australian television, Daniel has had lead roles in City Homicide and Wild Boys, as well as hosting Dancing with the Stars for seven seasons. Most recently Daniel has featured on stage in 2:22 – A Ghost Story in Melbourne opposite Ruby Rose, Gemma Ward and Remy Hii and will next be seen opposite Russell Crowe in the upcoming feature Land of Bad.

Producer Alex Woodward said;

I first saw The Woman in Black in 2020 and knew I had to bring it back to Australia. It’s such an incredible gripping show that is so spellbinding, it has you on the edge of your seat for two hours. When it came to casting we knew it was perfect to ask theatre royalty John Waters to reprise his role he debuted in Australia more than 15 years ago. Daniel was also a natural choice for his incredible ability, charm and charisma.

Written in 1983, Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black has become one of the most successful gothic novels in the English canon. A perfect example of horror and gothic writing, readers are transported to the eerie setting of Eel Marsh House in the small market town of Crythin Gifford in the north of England. The story is told through the first person narration of Arthur Kipps, who begins the novel too distressed to share a ghost story with his family, and then recounts how as a young solicitor he was sent to oversee the funeral of a Mrs Alice Drablow, a client of his law firm. Along the way he encounters many who seem unwilling or unable to share the secrets of Eel Marsh House and its inhabitants, until he himself encounters the Woman in Black, and begins to unravel the mystery of the haunted past and eerie spectre he sees.

“A real treat. Entertainment at its very best” – Daily Telegraph

“Ingenious – a journey into fear” – Ben Brantley, New York Times

“Don’t go unless you like being scared out of your wits!” – Sunday Mirror

“It tightens its grip on the spectator like a medieval instrument of torture.” – Daily Express

“One of British theatre’s biggest – and scariest – hits.” – The Guardian

“A truly nerve-shredding experience!” – Daily Mail

The Woman in Black “will scare the living daylights out of you” (Daily Express) – see it if you dare!

Photo Credit: James Reiser

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Season Details

Brisbane

Venue                                  Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane
Season                                From 1 May
Bookings                             qpac.com.au or phone 136 246

Adelaide

Venue                                  Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season                                From 15 May
Bookings                             ticketek.com.au or phone 13 28 49

Perth

Venue                                  His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth
Season                                From 30 May
Bookings                             artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au or (08) 6212 9292

Melbourne

Venue                                  Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
Season                                From 14 June
Bookings                             ticketmaster.com.au or phone (03) 9650 1500

Canberra

Venue                                  Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra
Season                                From 9 July
Bookings                             canberratheatrecentre.com.au or (02) 6275 2700

Newcastle

Venue                                   Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Season                                From 23 July
Bookings                             civictheatrenewcastle.com.au or (02) 4929 1977

Toowoomba

Venue                          Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
Season                         Saturday 27 April
Bookings                      empiretheatre.com.au