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# Theatre review: Haunting Julia @ Lichfield Garrick
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/theatre-review-haunting-julia-lichfield-garrick/
- Published: 2011-05-05T17:30:59.000Z
- Updated: 2011-05-05T17:31:56.000Z
- Author: Phil Preece
- Tags: Reviews, What's On, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:32

[![Haunting Julia](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/haunting-julia-prodoction-shot.jpg "Haunting Julia prodoction shot")](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/i0-wp-com/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/haunting-julia-prodoction-shot.jpg?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk)

Haunting Julia

Haunting Julia – last year’s sell-out Garrick Rep production – is back owing to popular demand. Next stop’s a London transfer to the prestigious Riverside Studios so lucky Lichfield currently has the chance to take another peek at this outstanding show before it’s viewed by theatre-goers in the capital.

I went along to see how the show’s fared since last year. It was good then, but my initial reaction this time was that the show has improved in a dozen different ways.

Actor/director Andrew Hall (last seen in Corrie as Audrey’s new boyfriend “Marcia”) is a sly old thing who knows above a bit about presentation. He’s tightened and sharpened the production all round sorting out some slightly confusing ambiguities. Now with the help of some subtle and impressive sound and lighting effects he has the audience on the edge of their seats throughout with nervous laughter and genuine shock at this spooky tale.

The actors too have had longer to get into their complex roles with the result that they’re now working together in that almost subliminal way which comes with practice.

Christopher Timothy has fleshed out his role as the domineering father to achieve genuine pathos in his bewildered reaction to his daughter’s death.

Richard O’Callaghan as Ken has a slightly creepy unctuousness which I found increasingly unnerving as the evening unwound.

But it is Dominic Hecht’s performance as the young Andy which provides the essential link between the characters. To his slightly touchy responses to the evening’s strange events he has now added an immense likeability which forms the perfect bridge between the audience and the action of the play. As a result Ayckbourn’s mystery becomes ever more involving as befits the complex psychological drama it actually is.

Catch this unusually good production while you can.

Haunting Julia runs until May 14\. For tickets phone the box office on 01543 412121 or go online at [www.lichfieldgarrick.com](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Haunting-Julia-prodoction-shot.jpg).