‘The Haunting of Hill House’ Is Coming to the Stage: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
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Fans of spine-tingling storytelling have a new reason to check the calendar. Shirley Jackson’s iconic horror novel The Haunting of Hill House is being brought to life on stage, with a U.K. tour set to launch this fall, per Variety.
The production marks the latest chapter for a story that has captivated audiences across multiple formats — from the page to the screen to now, for the first time, the theater. And for anyone who has ever been gripped by the eerie tale of the Crain family, the prospect of experiencing those chills in a live setting promises to be something entirely different.
The Haunting of Hill House first took the form of a bestselling novel written by Jackson. The tale was then adapted for the screen as a smash-hit Netflix series starring Victoria Pedretti. Now, the story is making its way to the stage, adding yet another dimension to a narrative that has proven its enduring power.
For those unfamiliar with the story, fair warning: it’s not for the faint of heart. The plot follows Hugh and Olivia Crain and their five children as they move into the Hill House. The Crains arrive hoping to fix it up and sell it, but things don’t go exactly as planned. They are stuck there longer than expected and the family is subjected to the hauntings.
The Netflix series, which premiered on October 12, 2018, featured a star-studded ensemble cast. Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel and Pedretti portrayed the siblings in adulthood. Carla Gugino and Henry Thomas took on the roles of parents Olivia and Hugh Crain, while Timothy Hutton appeared as an older version of Hugh.
Who Is Behind the Stage Adaptation?
The stage version is being written by Olivier and BAFTA award-winner Stef Smith, a playwright whose credentials signal the production is in accomplished hands. Directing the adaptation is Martin Constantine.
Smith expressed deep reverence for the source material, describing the experience of adapting Jackson’s work as “a true privilege,” and calling the novel “one of the greatest supernatural novels of the last one hundred years.”
In a statement that offers a window into what audiences might expect from the stage production, Smith elaborated on what draws her to Jackson’s world.
“I find Shirley Jackson’s world intoxicating, thrilling and gut-wrenching,” Smith said. “I believe there is something so deeply theatrical at the heart of Hill House. From the spooky, to the surreal, through heartache and hope. I hope that our cast of characters will take the audience along for a ride quite unlike anything else. Above all we will examine that the biggest horrors are usually human.”
Jackson’s Family Gives Its Blessing
Laurence J. Hyman, Shirley Jackson’s son, gave the adaptation his enthusiastic endorsement.
“From film and television to the stage, my mother Shirley Jackson’s legacy continues to endure through her iconic novel ‘The Haunting of Hill House,’” Hyman said, per Variety. “I’m thrilled that this haunting classic will return in a new form, and that Stef Smith’s adaptation will capture the novel’s remarkable and unsettling spirit for audiences in a whole new way.”
His words underscore the significance of the project not just as entertainment, but as a continuation of his mother’s literary legacy. With the blessing of Jackson’s own family, the stage production carries a sense of both respect for the original work and excitement for what it can become in a live theatrical setting.
Where and When You Can See It
The tour has an ambitious schedule spanning several weeks and multiple cities across the U.K. Here is the full lineup of dates and venues:
Salisbury Playhouse — Sept. 11 through Oct. 3 (opening engagement) Richmond Theatre — Oct. 6-10 Theatr Clwyd — Oct. 13-17 Theatre Royal Brighton — Oct. 20-24 Palace Theatre Manchester — Oct. 27-31 Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse — Nov. 3-7 Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh — Nov. 10-14
The tour kicks off at Salisbury Playhouse on Sept. 11 with a nearly month-long opening run before transferring to Richmond Theatre on Oct. 6. From there, the production travels through Wales, the south of England, the northwest, and ultimately concludes in Scotland at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre on Nov. 14.
