A REVIVAL of a chilling thriller gets the Everyman Theatre season off to an edge of the seat start, when Wait Until Dark opens on September 12.

From the hand of Frederick Knott, author of Dial M For Murder, and the producers behind Night Must Fall and Birdsong, Wait Until Dark is set amidst the social turbulence of 1960s London.

The play follows the story of Susy, a blind woman who, left alone in her apartment, becomes the victim of an elaborate scam hatched by a group of conmen.

Susy is left to fend for herself, but with the phone line cut dead and the house plunged into darkness, can Suzy outwit the murderous visitors?

Wait Until Dark, made into a film starring Audrey Hepburn in 1967, is often ranked as one of the top 100 scariest films of all time and this exciting new production reclaims it for the stage.

The star cast includes Jack Ellis as Mike (Prime Suspect and Bad Girls) and Oliver Mellor as Sam Henderson (Coronation Street). Graeme Brookes and Tim Treloar will play Croker and Roat respectively Karina Jones plays Susy.

This will be the first time that this role has actually been played by a registered blind actress.

She told Vicky Edwards: "In this play I’ve totally got an advantage [over a sighted actress] because I’ve got a lot of shorthand. I’ve got a head start because I have real insight into the character.".

Wait Until Dark will be directed by Alastair Whatley, with designs by David Woodhead, lighting by Chris Withers, sound and music by Giles Thomas, fight coordination by Rc-Annie and casting by Ellie Collyer Bristow.

The national tour is produced by Tom Hackney for The Original Theatre Company.

  •  For tickets visit everymantheatre.org and call Box Office 01242 572573.