Ghosts is the first play that Martin Gilby has directed for the EAT, although he has recently appeared on stage in The Nether and Jekyll and Hyde. If you have a long memory, he was also in Macbeth and The Tempest.

Martin has acted in and directed over twenty productions at Erith Playhouse, most recently appearing as two of the three husbands in Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite (coincidentally with Zannah Churchill, who’s playing Helene in Ghosts.

Most recently, Martin directed Bombshells by Joanna Murray-Smith, and Emma Rice’s adaptation of Brief Encounter, both at Erith.He has also written, directed and appeared in Panto – oh yes he has!

Read on to find out more about Ghosts and Martin’s thoughts on Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece.

How would you describe Ghosts to somebody who doesn’t know the play?

It’s a classic family drama in a fresh and fast-moving version.

What made you want to direct Ghosts?

I saw the original production of this version (2013, by Richard Eyre and starring Lesley Manville) and was mesmerised by its freshness, the directness of its language and the complexity of its characters.

Is there another “classic” play that you would like to direct?

After the success of Brief Encounter and Bombshells I said I’d only direct plays written by women, so that cuts out almost all of the ‘classics’: but Ibsen wrote some great female characters, including Helene and Regina in Ghosts (Ed: Yes, that’s allowed as it pretty much fits the brief!).

My ‘day job’ is as a volunteer steward at Shakespeare’s Globe so I’d love to do more Elizabethan-Jacobean drama: The Merchant of Venice. Or perhaps some Greek tragedy: Electra?

Why should people come and see Ghosts?

Ghosts was written nearly 150 years ago but it explores issues that are relevant today in a fresh and thought-provoking way. It’s a stunning piece of theatre and I’m really excited to be bringing it to life in this intimate space.

Ghosts is on stage from 7th-14th February 2026. Find out more and book tickets here.