Edinburgh Fringe venue The Space has created a range of online productions that are available between 8th-30th August 2020 during the time in which the Festival would have been taking place. With lockdown taking its toll on the entire Arts and Theatre industry many productions have created online performances.
One of the productions available is After the Turn: The Mystery of Bly Manor which has been written and directed by George Cooper and Ellie Hardwick the writing duo have set their piece five years on from Henry James’s novella The Turn of the Screw.
The television-style documentary production uses interviews from friends and family to piece together the events leading up to the mysterious tragedy surrounding Theodora (Eilidh Gibson). The main focus in presenting the evidence takes the form of video diary entries which she had left behind. These are sensitively presented by her dear friend Marcus Bryson (Brian Weldich).
Theodora Hill was hired as the governess for the two Bly children Miles and Flora while in residence at Bly Manor. The excitement and enthusiasm in accepting her new role are short-lived as a stranger appears unsettling her and causing immense anxiety. The dark and eerie mystery surrounding Bly Manor soon begins to unfold before her.
The gripping short ghost story created by James in 1898 has been captured in this modernised version. The cast brilliantly succeeded in creating the horror and dread first bought to life through the original novella.
It’s extremely tempting with a production of this calibre to write an in-depth review explaining everything that they have achieved. However, I don’t want to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of the chilling performances. Therefore, I would strongly urge you to take the time to watch it while it’s available online.
As creatives have begun to produce work during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of the exceptional examples available until August 30th. Nine Knocks Theatre company have shown the wealth of talented actors in their company along with their ability to create a powerful and atmospheric performance without actually being on the same stage.
Four Stars.
https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/1559266-the-turn-of-the-screw/
Online@TheSpaceUK.com
Theatre, Films and Art reviews 
I watched this last week and also enjoyed it
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I didn’t want to give too much away though.
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Yes, I also tried to be a bit cagey. I guess if you know the original story then there isn’t really a surprise but they updated it well
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Yes they modernised it extremely well. I read James in year 1 at University it wasn’t my favourite. Then I love post modernism.
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