Shirley Jackson's Hill House Heads to the Stage: First Rehearsal Photos and Full Cast Revealed
A new stage adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House has released its first rehearsal images, with the full cast now confirmed ahead of a UK tour beginning next month. The production is a world premiere, adapted for the stage by Olivier and BAFTA Award-winner Stef Smith and directed by Martin Constantine. Photographer Pamela Raith captured the rehearsal-room first-look images, published on 25 August. (WhatsOnStage)
The tour opens at Salisbury Playhouse on 11 September and travels to eight venues across England, Wales and Scotland through the autumn. The national press night takes place at Richmond Theatre on 8 October, with that venue hosting the production from 6 to 10 October. The run concludes at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh on 14 November. Stops along the way include Theatr Clwyd in Mold, Theatre Royal Brighton, Palace Theatre Manchester, and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse. (WhatsOnStage)
The cast is led by Jasper Britton as Dr. Montague, the paranormal investigator at the centre of Jackson's story, and Clancy Ryan as Eleanor, the fragile young woman drawn to the haunted house. Jemma Churchill plays Mrs Montague, with Sian Howard as Mrs Dudley, Sophie Lenglinger as Theo, and Robin Morrissey as Luke. Darryl Oakley and Eleanor Hague serve as understudies. (WhatsOnStage)
The production is produced by Wiltshire Creative — the arts organisation that runs Salisbury Playhouse — in association with Theatr Clwyd, the Welsh national producing theatre based in Mold. Mark Puddle presents the production with Alexander "Sandy" Marshall and Patrick Myles, and James Quaife serves as general manager for Luminous Entertainment Group. The arrangement follows a common model in British theatre, where a subsidised regional house develops a production that then tours commercially. (WhatsOnStage)
The creative team is extensive. Ti Green designs the set, with lighting by Chris Davey, sound by Johnny Edwards, and a score from composer Harry Blake. Duncan McLean handles video design, and Will Houstoun is credited as illusion designer, suggesting the production will lean into practical stage effects rather than relying solely on digital trickery. Georgina Lamb is movement director, with Bobbie-Jean Henning as associate director. (WhatsOnStage)
Jackson's novel, a cornerstone of gothic psychological horror, has been adapted for film and television several times, most notably in Robert Wise's 1963 film and Mike Flanagan's 2018 Netflix series. This is the first stage version to tour the UK.
WhatsOnStage first broke the news of the adaptation in February 2026, with the full cast announcement and rehearsal photos following in subsequent months. The production joins a busy autumn season of touring drama, arriving as regional theatres look to strong titles to fill seats after the summer months.
