Stepping into the Liverpool Playhouse foyer, there’s an electricity in the air that perfectly mirrors the world of Ali Milles’ haunting drama. Set in a crumbling crofter’s hut on the remote Applecross peninsula, two friends, Laura and Suzanne, arrive seeking respite—only to be drawn into a web of grief, identity and unsettling echoes from the Highland Clearances. The production runs from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 July 2025, clocks in at 2 hours 5 minutes (including an interval), and carries a 14+ recommendation for its explorations of death, loss and brief depictions of violence.
The Croft isn’t just a ghost story; it’s an elegy to memory and the scars we inherit. By the final blackout, you’ll find yourself perched on the edge of your seat, heart pounding from suspense and softened by the play’s profound empathy. It’s a theatrical experience that lingers long after the lights come up. If you crave theatre that chills, uplifts and resonates on a deeply human level, you won’t soon forget this journey into the Highlands’ haunted soul.
Here are the central themes running through The Croft at Liverpool Playhouse:
- Grief and unresolved trauma: The characters are haunted not only by literal ghosts but by the emotional weight of past losses. The croft becomes a vessel for confronting personal and generational sorrow.
- The legacy of history: Set across three timelines—the present, the 1980s, and the 1870s Highland Clearances—the play examines how the past refuses to stay buried. It suggests that the choices and injustices of our ancestors echo through time.
- Identity and belonging: Through the relationships between women across generations, the play delves into questions of selfhood, family ties, and the search for connection in isolated spaces.
- The supernatural as metaphor: While the ghostly elements deliver suspense, they also serve as metaphors for the emotional hauntings we carry—memories, regrets, and the fear of repeating history.
- Isolation and vulnerability: The remote Highland setting heightens the characters’ emotional exposure, stripping away distractions and forcing them to confront truths they might otherwise avoid.
It’s this blend of psychological depth and eerie atmosphere that makes The Croft more than just a ghost story—it’s a meditation on how the past shapes the present, and how healing often begins in the darkest places.
At its heart are powerhouse performances from Liza Goddard (Enid), Caroline Harker (Suzanne) and Gray O’Brien (David), each layering their roles with subtle shifts of tension and emotional truth. Gracie Follows, Russell Layton and Simon Roberts add effortless depth as the younger generation whose past and present selves overlap, thanks to Ali Milles’ impeccably crafted doubling. The chemistry between Goddard and Harker crackles, making every whispered secret and mounting revelation feel viscerally immediate.
Alastair Whatley’s direction, building on Philip Franks’ original staging, is a masterclass in atmospheric precision. Adrian Linford’s set is remarkable as its weathered timber walls carrying the weight of three interwoven timelines. Chris Davey’s lighting flickers like hearth-fire and ghostly moonlight, while Max Pappenheim’s subtle soundscape threads uneasy silences through every scene.
Whilst the plot was sometimes difficult to follow this frighteningly spooky performance convinced me not to take a holiday in a remote Scottish croft. For all lovers of this genre this five star Croft is a must see.
The Croft runs at the Liverpool Playhouse until 5 July.
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Kevin Eccleston
