The Chills Are Coming: Liverpool Unity Theatre to Host an Evening of Ghostly Tales…
After a sold-out tour of the Midlands and an acclaimed appearance at the UK Ghost Story Festival, the unique and unnerving storytelling of The Librarian of Weeping Bank is set to captivate Liverpool for the first time.
On Thursday 30 October the intimate setting of the Unity Theatre will be transformed into the candlelit study of the enigmatic Librarian for a reading of his latest folk horror tale, Way Marker.
This is not a traditional theatrical production, but a return to the very essence of storytelling. As the Librarian himself, A.G. Smith, explains, “This is more a ‘Man in Black’ audio experience than it is a ‘Woman in Black’ theatrical performance. The Librarian is not performing the story, he is reading it and experiencing it with you.”
This minimalist, yet profoundly effective, approach creates an intense and deeply personal connection with the audience. In a world of constant digital distraction, Weeping Bank offers a sacred space to be read to—an experience many haven’t had since childhood.
Way Marker is a modern folk horror story that explores themes of isolation and the dark secrets hidden in the landscape. It follows Judith Holden, who, on her annual New Year’s walk, finds her perfect day turning terrifyingly wrong. The story cleverly taps into modern anxieties, drawing inspiration from the recent UK lockdowns and our collective yearning to reconnect with nature, while also cautioning against the hidden dangers that lurk in the edgelands of the countryside.
Liverpool, a city with its own rich history of ghost stories and folklore, provides the perfect backdrop for this chilling theatrical experience. The Unity Theatre’s community-focused ethos and intimate atmosphere will amplify the creeping sense of dread and psychological tension for which Weeping Bank’s performances are renowned.
As co-founder Robert Whitehouse notes, “The audience is not just watching a show; they are sharing a space with the storyteller and the story itself.”
This is a night for lovers of traditional ghost stories and those who appreciate gothic horror. Reviews praise the storytelling as “superb,” “uniquely chilling,” and “flawlessly delivered.” However, be warned: these tales contain moments of heightened tension and unease and are deemed unsuitable for anyone under 15 or of a nervous disposition. The stories of Weeping Bank Library are designed to stay with you long after the candles have been extinguished.
In a special nod to the city, the Weeping Bank team will be raising awareness for The Reader’s Reading Heroes programme, a Liverpool-based charity that promotes reading for pleasure among care-experienced children. It’s a fitting partnership, bridging the gap between avid and reluctant readers and extending the magic of storytelling beyond the stage.
Given the sold-out tour of the Midlands and the acclaimed UK Ghost Story Festival performance, what do you believe is resonating so deeply with audiences in this specific genre and format?
Weeping Bank bridges the gap between Audible and Theatre. Our aim is to establish a new hinterland for audiences to explore. Original stories, told with minimal soundscape and lighting, returning audiences to the very essence of storytelling. This is more a ‘Man in Black’ audio experience than it is a ‘Woman in Black’ theatrical performance. The Librarian is not performing the story, he is reading it and experiencing it with you. Sitting in the dark in a theatre, this becomes a uniquely close experience. We are often told by audience members that they felt as though The Librarian was reading just to them. Without the comfort blanket of knowing this is just an actor performing a part, or a horror show enhanced with clever special effects.
The Unity Theatre is known for its intimate atmosphere. How does the space itself, from the lighting to the stage’s architecture, influence your performance and help you create that “chilling” and “unsettling” experience?
The Unity Theatre is an ideal venue for a Weeping Bank reading. The intimate atmosphere of the space perfectly complements our performance and realistic setup, made to look like The Librarian’s private study. It allows for a direct connection between the storyteller and the audience, which is essential for our unique style of ghost story. The audience is not just watching a show; they are sharing a space with the storyteller and the story itself, which helps to create that ‘chilling’ and ‘unsettling’ experience.
We also have a great deal of respect for the Unity’s community-focused ethos and their commitment to supporting performers at different stages of their careers. Bringing our work to a venue with such a deep connection to its community is really important to us.
The term Folk Horror has seen a resurgence. What is it about this sub-genre, and specifically the tale “Way Marker”, that you feel captures the modern psyche’s fears so effectively?
Landscape, whether that’s rural or urban, is a rich playground for the supernatural. I love the concept of edgelands, where the countryside has found its way into a more industrial landscape—the weeds that grow through broken tarmac, the abandoned factory with saplings growing out of the clogged guttering, somehow providing a gateway for the supernatural to crossover. The countryside is often viewed through rose-tinted glasses by visiting tourists and yet it holds as many hazards and dangers as a bustling city. It’s this element of folk horror I wanted to explore with Way Marker. What happens when you decide to trespass along unmarked routes or explore dilapidated farm buildings? What is waiting for you in the middle distance—and is that really a scarecrow in that field or did it just move?
Your performances are described as being ‘flawlessly delivered with thespian-level gravitas.’ Is there a conscious effort to move beyond a simple reading into a full-bodied performance?
Not at all. It’s flattering to read reviews like this, but the essence of Weeping Bank never changes. This is still a reading, not a theatrical performance. I am not a trained actor, but I do believe in the power of a good story, well-written and told with conviction. This is what has surprised and captivated audiences. The whole event feels real in a way that perhaps a show or an audio drama can never quite be.
Weeping Bank works just as effectively with a small audience in a village library as it does on a stage in front of two hundred people. It requires only a minimal setup to establish where we are, and then the story will do the rest. For the audience, it’s about taking time out of your busy life, to be read to—something which you may not have experienced since childhood, if at all. But be warned. These stories stay with you long after the evening ends.
You bring engaging performances to both “avid and reluctant readers.” How do you bridge that gap, and what do you hope the non-reader takes away from a night at Weeping Bank?
Weeping Bank readings appeal to both avid and reluctant readers by returning to the fundamental power of spoken word. For avid readers, it’s a unique chance to experience a ghost story they have not read before in the traditional style of the great ghost storytellers of times gone by. For the reluctant or non-reader, the format removes the barrier of a physical book. They are simply there to be read to—an experience they may not have had since childhood. The hope is that the non-reader takes away more than just a spooky story. It’s an invitation back into the world of storytelling and imagination, and perhaps, a bridge to becoming a reader themselves.
This links quite nicely with why we are raising awareness at this event of the Reading Heroes programme from Liverpool-based charity, The Reader. This too bridges the gap between avid and reluctant readers by supporting volunteer readers to lead weekly online reading sessions with care-experienced children across the UK. It’s such an important campaign and we’re delighted to be able to help spread the word.
The reading is billed as “unsuitable for anyone under the age of 15 or of a nervous disposition.” What specific elements of tension or unease should the audience be prepared for?
Although The Librarian’s tales are not based on graphic descriptions of gore or shocking visual effects, they do build tension and unease through psychological horror and a creeping sense of dread. The audience should be prepared for moments of heightened tension, where the atmosphere and narrative converge to create a chilling feeling that lingers after the performance is over.
The story “Way Marker” centres on a solitary walk with a traditional Ordnance Survey map. In an era of GPS and constant connectivity, is the theme of isolation in the landscape a deliberate commentary on modern life?
The inspiration for Way Marker came in part from the UK Lockdowns, something which is hinted at in the story. It was an unsettling period in which the wider landscape came more strongly into focus. People began to discover and explore their own environments seemingly for the first time and the countryside in particular became a much-yearned-for location.
When the lockdowns eased, I often read reports of coastal towns and country villages that felt invaded by tourists desperate to escape their urban confinement. All this fed into the writing of Way Marker: the idea of someone needing to escape their confines and feel reconnected to the landscape. For one day they wish to be untethered from mobile phones, emails and Zoom calls—to return to nature. It’s a feeling that resonates deeply with audiences.
Liverpool has a rich history of ghost stories and folklore. What does it mean to you to bring your tales to a city with such a deep connection to the supernatural?
Bringing the tales of Weeping Bank to Liverpool for the first time is an amazing opportunity for us in so many ways, but especially given the city’s history of ghost stories and fiction writers (e.g. the legendary Ramsay Campbell!). For the Librarian of Weeping Bank, it means bringing a style of storytelling that honours the city’s tradition while offering something new. It’s a chance to connect with an audience that already has a deep appreciation for the genre, and to contribute to the ongoing narrative of Liverpool’s haunted past and present.
The reviews compare your work to the great ghost story writers of yesteryear, particularly M.R. James. How do you honour that legacy while also creating something new and fresh?
Both M.R. James and Charles Dickens were renowned for their ability to effectively read their stories aloud to audiences, something which not all writers are able to do. Weeping Bank is recapturing that skill for a whole new generation. The tales themselves often doff their cap to the works of the great ghost and horror writers, but they also strive to establish a new, world-building platform of their own. Weeping Bank has fast become a place that people are keen to learn more about, and because these stories began life in 2009 there are many tales yet to be dusted off and told to eager listeners wherever we go.
I am a firm believer that there is room for everyone in every single genre, and it has been a joy to meet so many incredible writers and performers who are all striving to keep the ghost story genre thriving. The fact that Weeping Bank now sits comfortably amongst its peers is something I could never have predicted. I can’t wait to see where this journey will take us and our audience. To quote legendary Liverpool horror writer Clive Barker, “We have such sights to show you.”
Following your Liverpool debut, what are the plans for The Librarian of Weeping Bank? Can audiences expect to hear more tales from the shelves of the library in the future?
Audiences can absolutely expect to hear more tales in the future. The Librarian has been writing his tales for many years, and continues to do so, meaning there are many more stories yet to be told. Initially just reading his stories in a few libraries from October to December, The Librarian now has a year-round tour of venues of all sizes in various places around the country.
We have lots of ideas to expand the world of Weeping Bank and we’re having some very interesting conversations with organisations and venues about future events and developments, so follow us on social media and keep an eye on the events page at www.weepingbank.com for all the latest announcements.
You can book tickets for Way Marker at ticketsource.co.uk/weeping-bank.
Find out more about The Reader’s Reading Heroes programme at thereader.org.uk/readingheroes.
