The Phantom of Friar Street
Review by Lisa Butler.
This is a very enjoyable play.
I’ve previously seen many productions by Common Ground Theatre Company, but mostly their comedies, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this touring production. What I got was an excellent script, performed by top quality actors, in a village hall setting, with an affordable ticket price.
Presented in two 40-minute acts, it is a ghost story, a love story and a murder mystery with a sprinkling of humour to lighten it all.
The website promises there are “scares, shocks and a spine-chilling twist in the tale, mixed with humour, live music and a heart-warming affirmation of undying love”.
“There was a mystery attached to No 17 Friar Street that the townsfolk weren’t keen to talk about. It was only Mabel who was obsessed with finding the truth.”
The story is told by a retiring schoolteacher Jack to his class, in the last lesson before he retires. He recounts a tale of when he lived at 17 Friar Street – not the one in Ipswich, though, a street in Kent. A tale of phantoms and spooky hauntings in the house where he lived while recovering after being injured in the first world war where he has a foot amputated. The story follows the phantoms that appear at the house but also tells the tale of the phantom pain that Jack experiences and how he deals with it. Jack is played by Joseph Aylward who carries most of the lines in the play with professional fluency and expresses the pain and confusion of Jack convincingly, acting as both storyteller and character in his own story. Opposite him playing Mabel is Ellen Pallant, who is expressionate and enthusiastic in her character. She has a beautiful and haunting singing voice and gorgeous period costumes by Faby Pym. The third character, Albert, is played by Julian Harries, who brings dark humour to the character as well as the gravitas of an experienced actor from both stage and TV.
The multi-talented Pat Whymark is the lead musician for the play, as well as the writer, director and composer, with other instruments performed by Julian (accordian) and Ellen (cello). Pat and Julian form the creative core of Common Ground Theatre Company and are also responsible for the stage design for this production.
How on earth they fit all the set and lights into the van and trailer outside I will never know, but they must all be very good at Tetris.
The set uses a window frame and net curtain to great effect by projecting onto it, showing atmospheric images and ghostly figures, made even more grotesque by the distortions of the net curtain. The design uses a single set to cover all the locations in the play, giving seamless transitions from one location to the next within the house and outside. All well-lit by the lighting designer and technical manager Mark Sterling.
Not sure what else I could say apart from it was excellent and I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
The production is touring until November and recommended for ages 15+, so don’t delay - book now if you love a good ghost story…there are still a few dates left.
(Lisa Butler reviewed the performance at Gt Bromley Village Hall on 11 October.)
The Phantom of Friar Street is also at Haverhill Arts Centre on 29 October 2026.
FOR SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE
For details on the full tour - including more dates in Suffolk - click HERE.