Following its historic 33 year run in London’s West End, an acclaimed Off-Broadway installment, national tours and with millions of fans around the world, the record-setting international hit production of The Woman in Black comes to Milwaukee Rep, January 21 – March 23.
For fans of outstanding acting and lovers of a good ghost story, this intensely theatrical production is a rare chance to see British theater at its best – and most macabre. And here are the top five reasons why this spine-tingling show should be on your “must see” list for 2025:
1. It still holds the record as the second longest-running play in London’s West End
The numbers are the very definition of a runaway theatrical hit: more than 7 million audience members at 13,232 performances over an unbelievable 33 years. And when The Woman in Black ended its historic run in 2022, it closed as the second longest-running play in London’s West End behind only Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.
But, these staggering figures only tell half of the story.
Over the years, The Woman in Black became a beloved theatrical touchstone for generations of savvy fans, eager tourists and even teenage school students who made this production an incredibly popular field trip outing. The critics praised it as “a masterpiece” (The Guardian) that’s “a real treat… entertainment at its very best” (The Independent) – and now you will be able to see this record-setting UK production in our very own Stiemke Studio.
2. It’s been a huge hit in the USA (New York Times Critic’s Pick) and around the world
Beyond its legendary place in West End history, The Woman in Black has been a smash hit wherever it’s played – in the USA and around the world. In addition to tours across the UK & Ireland, Australia and North America, the show’s off-Broadway production received three Drama League Award nominations, the Best Play Revival Award from the Off-Broadway Alliance and a New York Times Critic’s Pick which called the show “★★★★ Ingenious.”
3. It’s adapted from a beloved British novel that has also received a number of screen adaptations
The play is adapted from Dame Susan Hill’s novel of the same name, The Woman in Black, that is one of England’s finest and best-known stories. Since its release in 1983, it has been adapted for film, radio and television, most notably a 2012 feature film starring Daniel Radcliffe that The Hollywood Reporter praised as “a hoot of an old-fashioned British horror film.”
4. It’s performed by record-setting cast members from the UK production
Our upcoming production of The Woman in Black features an incredible cast from the record-setting West End and acclaimed touring productions. The company includes David Acton (Royal Shakespeare Company; “Downton Abbey”) and Ben Porter (The National Theatre) who both notably performed in the off-Broadway production that was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick. Alongside Mark Hawkins (The Globe; Lady Chatterley’s Lover, UK Tour), the three actors share the two roles of Arthur Kipps and The Actor.
5. It’s a master class in acting, told with little more than a simple set and a few props
Although it’s been called “one of British theater’s biggest – and scariest – hits” (The Guardian), one of the most amazing things about the production is it’s bold use of imagination and the theatrical, instead of overdone special effects.
With little more than a simple set and a few props, two actors create a gothic world of delicious thrills. It’s a gripping study in atmosphere and illusion, hand-crafted by two outstanding performers from “a clutter of cloths, boxes and furniture… a couple of chairs, a rocking chair, a high stool, a blanket and a large skip or trunk.”
Instead of blasting you out of your seat with phony, ratcheted-up effects, this show – like a good old-fashioned ghost story – will captivate your imagination and leave you on the edge of your seat wondering “how do they do it?”
Click here to learn more or purchase tickets to The Woman in Black