Darker Shores

Darker Shores is a Victorian ghost story which manages to be playfully intelligent, emotionally resonant and also quite scary. Its ghoulish atmosphere, biblical fanaticism and dark, knowing wit results in a piece which is both menacing and funny. The plot is as follows: it is Christmas 1875 and Professor Gabriel Stokes takes lodgings at The Sea House, on a desolate stretch of the East Sussex coast. No sooner has he arrived than the troubled history of the house comes to the fore with unexplained and mysterious happenings. Having enlisted the help of Tom Beauregard, an American spiritualist, the two embark on a terrifying journey to discover the truth. Following the traditions of the finest ghost stories, Darker Shores is a gripping and shadowy tale of suspense. Published to coincide with its world premiere at Hampstead Theatre, London 3 Dec 2009 -16 Jan 2010.

Michael Punter has written extensively for theatre and radio. His play The Wolves, produced by Paines Plough, was shortlisted for the George Devine and Margaret Ramsay awards. Recent works include Upstart Crows and for the BBC, Come to Me and The Glad House.