IF YOU HEAR THE WHISTLING, IT’S ALREADY TOO LATE!

Set on the fictional Scottish island of Skelthsea, The Whistling promised an eerie ghost story and a ‘whodunnit’ in one. The story follows a grieving young woman, Elspeth Swansome, who is looking for a fresh start as a nanny. Instead, she finds herself charged with a mute ward, in a haunted house, in a community full of secrets. Armed with all the ingredients for a chilling theatrical experience, I was excited for a night of suspense and scares. However, while the concept and setup had promise, the execution left much to be desired.

One of the standouts from the production was the set design by Diego Pitarch. The stage was transformed into the unsettling and foreboding Iskar House. But whilst beautifully crafted, it wasn’t utilised to its full potential. The shifting scenery, at first impressive, become quickly overdone and began to feel disconnected from the story. At times the extras were simply waiting in the wings, prepared to move things around, which distracted from the atmosphere. The lighting effects, intended to play with shadows and add to the suspense, lacked the precision needed to evoke fear. These elements felt more like missed opportunities, leaving me waiting for a scare that never came.

Another issue was the pacing of the production. The first half felt confusing and slow, with little payoff surrounding the buildup of the mystery. By the time answers did begin to emerge, the intrigue had fizzled. Elspeth’s journey of grief and healing was meant to anchor the story emotionally, but the lack of clarity in the narrative left me adrift. And the ultimate reveal of the villainous character, which I guessed, fell flat. What should have been a climatic moment failed to deliver the dramatic punch it needed.

On a positive note, all tickets at The Mill at Sonning include a two-course meal. For this production they put on Scottish inspired menu to compliment the show. And the cast was made up entirely of Scottish actors, bringing authenticity to the roles. Although sadly some characters did feel irrelevant, more like filler, adding little to the progression of the story.

For a ghost story, The Whistling never managed to create that essential sense of creeping dread. It’s frustrating how much potential The Whistling has and how much I wanted to love it! With more attention to pacing, set utilisation, and a tighter narrative, this could have been a truly haunting experience. But whilst this did not hit the mark for me, I’m looking forward to their next production. It’s time for all the festive feels with White Christmas running from 27 November.

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