You may have heard about its power to have grown adults jumping out of their seats and screaming... The Woman in Black is heading on a UK tour to mark its 27th anniversary in the West End, stopping off at The Theatre Royal in Windsor .

Susan Hill's critically-acclaimed ghost story is here to frighten you to your core in Stephen Mallatratt's dramatic stage direction. Directed by Robin Herford, The Woman in Black's arrival in Windsor has audiences young and old delightedly horrified.

The famous play tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the spectre of a "Woman in Black". He reaches out to a young actor to help him tell his story, and they begin to work on rehearsing a script to show to a crowd.

The storytelling begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into the narrative they find themselves transported into the world of ghostly hauntings and eerie marshes... The borders between reality and acting slowly begin to blur as the illusive Woman in Black begins to show her face.

Ghosts and illusions haunt the narrative, with the audience intermittently shrieking at the sight of the spectres, objects moving and incredible build-up of tension. The play does well to let suspense creep before allowing the audience to be shocked; the figure of the Woman in Black is used sparingly, just enough to terrify but not too much to over-egg.

Along with the unknown figure of the woman, there are two actors on stage portraying many different characters.

The stamina of the performers - both Matthew Spencer, who plays the actor and a young Arthur Kipps in the play-within-a-play, and David Acton, who plays the older Arthur Kipps, as well as imitations of characters including Sam Daily, Mr Jerome, Mr Bentley and Keckwick - was incredible to behold, and never once let up throughout the two-hour performance.

While the play takes a while to get going, and the lead-up to the drama is a little long, the talented pair of actors insured that the audience's attention was held throughout, meaning that once the action built, the intensity kept at a brilliant level.

The dark set (designed by Michael Holt) was kept simple and stark, allowing for the audience's minds to run wild with the story. Baskets and chairs were used to signify everything from a horse and trap to a bed, beautiful descriptions let the audience paint a picture of the surroundings and weather, while a little dog was portrayed by imagination alone.

Lighting was also used to stunning effect (designed by Kevin Sleep) throughout the play. Dim light illuminated a semi-transparent cloth through which ghosts and creepy old furniture were seen, torches and matches were used to disorient the audience, and smoke was used to create the famous sea fogs.

Set, including light and sound, was used brilliantly to add to the drama without overpowering it, and in fact the bare set meant that the audience's occasional sightings of the Woman in Black were made even more subtle and creepy due to the shadowy, sparse atmosphere.

The Theatre Royal Windsor was a brilliant location for the touring play, its smaller capacity lending the performance a personal and intense atmosphere; the West End version definitely provides bigger spectacle and drama to the story, however for the lower ticket prices this Windsor production delivered a quality experience.

This performance at The Theatre Royal Windsor shows that the play is versatile and powerful enough to hold up in every venue, large or small, due to its talented actors and clever plotline.

With its reliance on the imagination of the audience, The Woman in Black stays with you for long after you leave the theatre, as most of the terrifying elements are shrouded in secrecy. The play blurs the lines between make-believe and reality, making for a shocking, thrilling and captivating story.

Since opening in the West End in 1989, the show has entertained over seven million people. This terrifying production at The Theatre Royal Windsor proves that the hit show won't be stopping any time soon.

The Woman in Black runs at The Theatre Royal Windsor until Saturday October 8. Tickets cost from £13 to £31.

The Theatre Royal , 32 Thames Street, Windsor , SL4 1PS - 01753 853888