Key Points
- Performance: It Walks Around the House at Night by theatrical group ThickSkin.
- Author: Ex-Bruntwood Prize winner Tim Foley.
- Show dates at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch: 24–26 September.
- Tour dates around the UK: 2 October until 13 November in various theaters in England and Scotland.
- Genre: Ghost tale, psychological thriller, and dark comedy.
- Synopsis: A jobless actor cast to portray a ghost in an isolated country house realizes the difference between acting and truth fades.
- Staging: Atmospherics sounds, striking visuals, and innovative staging techniques employed.
Hornchurch (East London Times) September 1, 2026 – Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is set to host the premiere run of a new production titled It Walks Around the House at Night, created by the award-winning theatre company ThickSkin. Written by former Bruntwood Prize-winner Tim Foley, the piece is scheduled to run at the venue from 24 to 26 September before embarking on a broader national tour. The work is described by the production company as combining elements of a classic ghost story, a psychological thriller, and dark humor.
What is the storyline of It Walks Around the House at Night?
The narrative centers on an out-of-work actor who accepts employment at an isolated old country manor. The job requires the protagonist to portray a ghost to entertain or frighten visitors. Initially viewed by the character as a simple assignment to secure income and deliver basic theatrical scares, the situation escalates as the engagement progresses.
As the narrative unfolds over successive nights, the distinction between staged performance and genuine reality begins to deteriorate. The production explores the emergence of darker forces within the setting, transitioning from a routine acting gig into a broader supernatural and psychological dilemma.
How is the production staged and structured?
ThickSkin has designed the performance using an approach that integrates inventive staging, atmospheric soundscapes, and visual storytelling. The creative choices are structured to build creeping dread and suspense throughout the performance.
Following the initial three-day run in Hornchurch, It Walks Around the House at Night will commence an Autumn tour across the United Kingdom. The touring schedule covers multiple venues throughout England and Scotland from 2 October until 13 November.
Background of ThickSkin and Tim Foley’s Work
ThickSkin is an established UK-based theatre company recognized for producing physical, visually driven, and contemporary theatrical works. The company frequently collaborates with emerging and established playwrights to tour new writing across regional UK theatres.
Playwright Tim Foley previously gained national recognition as a winner of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, one of the United Kingdom’s premier playwriting competitions. Foley’s works often blend genre elements—such as sci-fi, horror, or the supernatural—with character-driven drama and comedy. It Walks Around the House at Night represents the latest collaboration between Foley and ThickSkin as part of their Autumn 2026 programming slate.
What does this development mean for UK regional theatre and audiences?
The launch of It Walks Around the House at Night at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch impacts several key stakeholders within the UK arts ecosystem:
Local and Regional Audiences
For theatregoers in Essex, East London, and subsequent tour locations across England and Scotland, the production provides direct access to new contemporary playwriting outside of central London west-end venues. The scheduling of a genre-blended thriller (ghost story and dark comedy) targets both traditional theatre patrons and audiences drawn to speculative fiction and horror.
Venue Programming and Regional Touring Networks
The collaboration between ThickSkin and venues like Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch reinforces the mid-scale regional touring circuit. Early-autumn runs allow regional venues to build momentum for their seasonal schedules, utilizing new writing with established creative credentials (such as Bruntwood Prize recognition) to secure advance ticket sales across UK regions.
