This weekend, I took the trip down to London so that I could give the 12-year-old Girls Aloud fan inside me a treat. One fifth of the band, Cheryl, is on stage each night in the thrilling and mysterious play 2:22 A Ghost Story. So, was it worth it? Should you get yourself some tickets? Is Cheryl good in 2:22? And, most importantly, are ghosts real?
What Is 2:22 A Ghost Story?
The show hit the West End in June 2021 and ran until October of the same year. But, due to popular demand, the show came back in December 2021. The initial theatre run was nominated for not one, but three Olivier Awards as well as four WhatsOnStage Awards.
The official description reads:
‘Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and her new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer. So, they’re going to stay up until 2:22… and then they’ll know.’
Cheryl and her fellow cast members are performing in the show from now until Sunday 23 April 2023, when the show will go on a UK tour with a new cast.
The tour will land in Bath, Newcastle, Norwich, Salford, Birmingham and many more places. Click here to find out more.
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Who Is In The Cast?
2:22 A Ghost Story has had many different casts throughout its run. Some cast members have included Lily Allen, Stephanie Beatriz, Tom Felton, James Buckley and Giovanna Fletcher.
The current cast sees Cheryl take on the role of Jenny. Despite not having any acting credits prior to this show, Cheryl is a well-known singer, both in the international girl group, Girls Aloud, and on her own, releasing four studio albums.
Jenny’s husband Sam is played by Scott Karim. Karim has extensive theatre credits from Chasing Hares to The Arrival and even Shakespeare’s Othello. He has appeared in smaller roles on TV as well.
Lauren is portrayed by Louise Ford, who is best known for her work on the BBC show Horrible Histories. She has also worked on shows such as Doc Martin, Crashing and In The Flesh.
Finally, Ben is played by Eastenders legend Jake Wood. He originated the role of Ben at the Noel Coward Theatre and has since reprised it.
Is Cheryl Good In 2:22?
Despite never having acted before, Cheryl really did hold her own amongst professional actors. Spending years on stage performing must have given her a leg up, as she looked at home in the Lyric Theatre.
For fans, this is a great way to see Cheryl in a different light. The fun-loving Geordie princess we once knew plays a stressed mother who clashes with her husband. Her loud outbursts were punchy and hard-hitting, as much as any professional actor.
The small set was also wonderfully created to make it seem larger than it is. There are only four characters on stage for most of the show, and their vastly different personalities make for an interesting watch.
If you only watch the show for the ending, you will have made a worthwhile trip. It blows you away and truly had me with mouth agape for minutes.