THE WOMAN IN BLACK CONTINUES TO HAUNT KORDA!
Korda Artistic Productions is entering its second weekend of performances, spooking audiences with the haunting ghost story The Woman in Black. The play is based on the book of the same name by English author Susan Hill and adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt.
“It was nine-thirty on Christmas Eve…” The framework of this spine tingler is unusual: a lawyer hires an actor to tutor them in recounting to family and friends a story that has long troubled them concerning events that transpired when they attended the funeral of an elderly recluse. There they caught sight of the woman in black, the mere mention of whom terrifies the locals, for she is a spectre who haunts the neighbourhood where her illegitimate child was accidentally killed. Anyone who is unfortunate enough to see her will suffer a terrible tragedy! The lawyer has invited some friends to watch as they and the actor recreate the events of that dark and stormy night. The New York Times wrote of this classic of the genre: “Ingenious – a journey into fear.”
The cast features Dean Valentino as the Actor; Larissa Dawn as Kipps; and Georgie Savoie as the Woman. The Woman in Black is the directorial debut of Korda Board member Kimberley Babb. Set design is byJeremy Burke and Nicole Clark; costumes are by Karen Kilbride; and sound and sound effects are by Andrew Brien and Noah Ball. Lighting operation is by Owl Foster. Narvin Fazlaliserkani is Stage Manager,Joey Wright produces, and Eric Tulp is Tech Designer.
“Ghost stories have always given me a special feeling of fascination that I can only describe as a blend of compelling terror and comfort food. So, you can imagine how excited I was to learn that in England there is a tradition of telling ghost stories around the fireplace on Christmas Eve. During my deep dive into the extensive library of these classic ghost stories, I came across the tale of The Woman in Black. On the surface, it is the story of an encounter with a malevolent ghost. But there is more complexity to the story, and my goal has been to capture these nuances in what you are about to see on our stage. Stephen Mallatratt’s stage adaptation of Susan Hill’s novel is a fresh take on the classic Victorian Gothic Horror story and asks us to “draw on our emotions and our imaginations” to bring this tragic tale to life. I’d like to thank my incredible cast and crew for all the heart and hard work that they have put into this production. And a special thanks to my husband, Andrew, for providing me with support in so many ways. I’ve saved you a spot next to the hearth, so pull up a chair and bring your imagination as we learn about the story of The Woman in Black.” – Director Kimberley Babb
The first weekend of performances ran October 17 to 19. Performances continue October 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, and November 1, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. All performances are at The KordaZone Theatre, at 2520 Seminole Street. Tickets may be purchased at the door an hour before performances, or in advance online. Tickets are $25 (General Admission) and $20 (Students and Seniors).
