Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

Hammer has announced that they are producing a stage adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House.

Produced in collaboration with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and Sonia Friedman Productions, this will be the first major UK stage adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s seminal horror novel. This stage version is adapted by Anthony Neilson (The Wonderful World of Dissocia, National Theatre Scotland; Realism, Edinburgh International Festival) and will be directed by Olivier and Tony Award nominee Melly Still (Coram Boy, Nation; National Theatre).

“No-one ever visits Hill House, especially not after dark,” the Hammer publicity explains.

“When three strangers are invited to join the mysterious Dr Montague at the eerie house on the hill, not even their darkest dreams could have prepared them for what awaits. As their stay unfolds, they are plagued by a series of inexplicable events that propel them to the very edge of their existence.”

The novel was published in 1959, and was described by Stephen King in Danse Macabre as one of the best late 20th Century horror stories, and influenced his 2002 TV miniseries Rose Red. It was filmed in 1963 as The Haunting by Robert Wise (and again in 1999 under the same title, although that version is best forgotten!). An earlier theatrical adaptation was penned by F. Andrew Leslie.

Described as “an alternative theatre experience over the festive period”, the psychological thriller will open at Liverpool Playhouse on 7 December 2015 until 16 January 2016.