Review: The Psychic

📍 Theatre Royal York

🗓️ 4th May 2026

Audiences are asked to keep the secrets, so very little can be said about the specifics of the show itself. 

So, was it worth the trip to York? 

Yes — I really enjoyed this.

This new play from Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson both blew my mind and left me feeling a bit underwhelmed at the same time. It is more of a psychological thriller than their previous play, Ghost Stories, with twists and turns that keep you guessing, particularly in the first act. At the interval, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Unfortunately, the second act didn’t quite shock me in the same way, but there is still a lot to like about this production.

The cast are excellent, with Eileen Walsh capturing the essence of shamed psychic Sheila Gold — balancing the over-confident front of her professional persona with a more vulnerable reality. Frances Barber is equally engaging as psychic Rosa, a character who brings an air of mystery.

Megan Placito impresses in her stage debut as Tara, bringing a confident energy to the role, while Jaz Singh Deol and Nikhita Lesler play a couple trying to reach their late daughter, both delivering believable and impactful performances.

Dave Hearn is excellent as radio presenter Robert Hamm, helping to drive the narrative forward and serving as a constant reminder of the lingering doubts around Sheila Gold’s reputation — a role he plays with sly charm, stirring the pot and pushing for the next big story.

The set is incredibly impressive and grows in scale as the show progresses. The special effects are equally strong — vague, I know, but I don’t want to give anything away. The opening is especially creepy, with a haunting rendition of one of my favourite songs from The Fureys playing out in the darkness.

The plot is mostly strong, and there’s clearly been a lot of research into the showmen community, which is fascinating to watch, with vocabulary and references woven throughout.

Overall, I really enjoyed the play. It’s fresh, exciting, and full of twists and turns, but it loses its way a little towards the end. Admittedly, that may be my own expectations speaking — although I knew this wasn’t the same genre as Ghost Stories, I still expected to leave feeling more shocked than I did.

Definitely worth the trip to York for me, though!