I recently visited the Torch Theatre for the preview night of The Turn of the Screw originally by Henry James but taken on by ‘Pembrokeshire's only professional producing theatre company’.

I did not know the story beforehand so was intrigued by the advertising which states ‘Are you ready for a ghost story?’ then ‘Be afraid’.

On arrival I was greeted by someone screaming in the background, setting the scene before I had even taken my seat.

The set was extremely clever and the story revolved around the strange goings on within and outside the house. The fact that when each scene ended there were no visible lights at all, it was pitch black. Right from the start I got the feeling that everything was not as it seemed.

I loved the way that the actors could set the scene by looks alone without any dialogue, considering there are only six of them.

‘On the surface this is a classic ghost story but when you peel back the layers you find a complex thought-provoking psychological thriller’.

During the play as the story unfolded I could feel the tension within the audience building, and welcomed the interval for a break from it.

The suspense grew throughout the play and I could not read what was going to happen right until the end.

The acting was exceptional throughout from all the cast with Kate Jarmen as Miss Giddens, Christine Pritchard as Mrs Grose, Joanna Simpkins as Miss Jessell, Jordan Barnarde as Peter Quint and Uncle, Amy Griggs as Flora and Michael Lapham as Miles.

It was a great evenings entertainment, well attended and appreciated by the audience.

The Turn of the Screw runs until October 26th. I would thoroughly recommend booking your seats to see this great production.

KELLY MCFADDEN