Two people, an unshaved male, dirty and unkempt, along with a young woman in a similarly dishevelled manner, embrace one other on a grimy and stained matress.

I initially surmised the pair to be lovers, until dialogue taught us that they are brother and sister, a brother and sister who only had each other to depend upon. We quickly learnt that due to the gruesome murder of their parents when the children were quite young, the pair had been left to fend for themselves with only a housemaid for assistance and company. But having been left, essentially alone, for quite some number of years their minds had become just as feral as their surroundings.

Naturally an audience would sympathise with two orphans forced to survive through childhood into adulthood with no one but an old, impartial housemaid for company. I did not. Our ability to sympathise is blocked by the fact there is something not quite right about these now adult ‘children’. For they often play as children, eat as children and often talk as children. Yet this gave no ease or comfort to a watching audience, on the contrary as the play developed the atmosphere became more and more uneasy and I began to wonder why watching these characters was making all the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I was right to feel nervous; all is not as it seemed in this household.

Having purposefully not read a synopsis or review prior to seeing the production – I never do, as it spoils it – I confess that I was utterly unprepared for the extreme level of intensity that this play offered. Brutal, shocking and unapologetic African Gothic is not for the faint hearted or weak minded.

Janna Fox played one half of the crazed sibling duo, Sussie, while Oliver Gomm played younger brother and protector Frikkie. Their chemistry was commanding and they successfully created a chilling and nail-biting atmosphere for their audience. The mysterious and watchful housemaid, Alina, is played by Lesley Ewen with piercing looks and a haunting gaze. Adam Ewan played the unsuspecting visitor of the tale, his practical yet nervous disposition contrasted perfectly with the intensity of Gomm and Ewen’s characters. The piece had a haunting and uneasy atmosphere about it reminding me nervously yet excitedly of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw.

African Gothic was bravely and imaginatively directed by Roger Mortimer and Deborah Edgington, the creative team behind the wonderful My Children! My Africa at Trafalgar Studios last year and I look forward to seeing their next production.

African Gothic is the horror story of a South African family’s bleak and flawed existence and is a truly powerful piece of theatre.

African Gothic is playing the Park Theatre until 23 January. For more information and tickets, see Park Theatre website. Photo by Boris Mitkov.