By Grace Hatchell, with her investigative mode activated.
A new dark thriller from the creators of Ghost Stories arrives at York Theatre Royal, following disgraced TV psychic Sheila Gold as a séance spirals into something far more dangerous.
Well now… this one landed in my satchel with a bit of a chill to it.
You know the sort — not your big jazz hands musical, not your tap-dancing feel-good number… but something quieter, darker… the kind of story that lingers a little longer than you’d like when you’re trying to get to sleep.
York Theatre Royal has announced full casting for the world premiere of The Psychic, a brand new play written and directed by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman — the minds behind Ghost Stories, which, if you’ve ever seen it, you’ll know has a habit of making audiences jump out of their seats and then nervously laugh about it after.
Running from 29 April to 23 May 2026, with a press night on 6 May, the production centres on Sheila Gold, a once-celebrated TV psychic whose reputation has come crashing down after losing a high-profile court case. Branded a fraud and facing mounting legal costs, she’s approached by a wealthy couple desperate to contact their late child.
Now… if you’re anything like me, you’ll already be thinking, “That doesn’t sound like it’s going to end well.”
And you’d be right.
Because what begins as an opportunity for Sheila to claw back some money quickly spirals into something far more unsettling — forcing her to confront not just her past, but the very nature of what she claims to believe.
It’s a proper dark thriller, this one. Not just bumps in the night, but something psychological… something that gets under your skin.
And the cast? Oh, they’ve packed this one out nicely.
Frances Barber takes on the role of Rosa, bringing with her a theatre career that reads like a who’s who of major stages. From Musik across Wilton’s Music Hall, Leicester Square Theatre and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, to The Unfriend at Wyndham’s Theatre and the Criterion, Hamlet at Theatre Royal Windsor, and An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath. She’s worked with the Donmar Warehouse, the RSC, the National Theatre, and even crossed over to New York and Los Angeles with productions like The School for Scandal and What the Butler Saw. On screen, you might recognise her from Whitstable Pearl, where she plays Dolly Nolan, alongside appearances in Inside No. 9, Doctor Who, Silk, and Cold Feet, plus films including Mr. Holmes and Goal!.
Eileen Walsh steps into the central role of Sheila Gold, and if you want someone who can carry emotional weight and complexity, she’s a serious piece of casting. Her theatre work includes Mnemonic and The Crucible at the National Theatre, Aristocrats at the Donmar Warehouse, and a long list of productions with the Royal Court, Abbey Theatre, and beyond. She’s also no stranger to screen audiences, with credits including Modern Love, Death in Paradise, Patrick Melrose, and film roles in Small Things Like These and The Magdalene Sisters. There’s a grounded intensity to her work that feels very well suited to a story like this.
Megan Placito plays Tara, adding to a cast that leans into both experience and rising talent.
Dave Hearn takes on the role of Robert Hamm, and if the name rings a bell, it should. He’s one of the core faces behind Mischief Theatre, appearing in The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, and Peter Pan Goes Wrong, as well as Magic Goes Wrong and Groan Ups. He’s also appeared in Bridgerton and The Goes Wrong Show, so there’s a strong sense of comic timing in his toolkit — which, in a thriller, can often make things even more unpredictable.
Jaz Singh Deol plays Deepak, with theatre credits spanning the Royal Court, Shakespeare’s Globe, and Theatre Royal Haymarket, alongside television work as Kheerat Panesar in EastEnders and appearances in Toxic Town and Sister Boniface Mysteries. He brings a real mix of stage gravitas and mainstream recognition.
Nikhita Lesler appears as Nisha, having performed in productions such as The Cat and the Canary at Chichester Festival Theatre, Noises Off on UK tour, and ENG-ER-LAND at the King’s Head Theatre, alongside television roles in Casualty and The Sixth Commandment.
Charlie Blanshard plays Mark, and alongside his acting credits in Jorvik and The Tempest, he’s also a writer — which always adds an interesting layer to a performer’s presence on stage.
And hovering over it all are Dyson and Nyman themselves — both award-winning, both deeply embedded in the world of psychological storytelling. Dyson’s work with The League of Gentlemen and his BAFTA-winning television writing, paired with Nyman’s dual career as an actor and collaborator with Derren Brown, gives this production a very particular edge. These are creators who understand tension, illusion, and the fine line between what’s real and what we want to believe.
So what you’re getting here isn’t just a ghost story.
It’s something murkier.
Something that plays with trust, grief… and perhaps a little bit of guilt too.
Now, I won’t lie — this isn’t exactly the sort of thing you pop along to after a nice cuppa and a biscuit expecting a gentle evening.
But it is exactly the sort of thing that gets people talking on the way out.
And as I tucked this one into my satchel, I did have a little pause…
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned delivering theatre news across the village, it’s this:
Because every now and then… a story lands that makes you pause before turning the light off.
YORK THEATRE ROYAL LISTINGS
York Theatre Royal
St Leonard’s Place, York YO1 7HD
Box Office: 01904 623568
THE SECRET GARDEN – THE MUSICAL
Runs until 4 April 2026
Press performance: Thursday 19 March at 7pm
THE PSYCHIC
29 April – 23 May 2026
Press night: 6 May 2026 at 7:30pm
Tickets from £15
BSL Interpreted performance Friday 15 May at 7:30pm
Audio Described performance Saturday 16 May at 2:30pm
Captioned performance Saturday 23 May at 2:30pm
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