Charles Dickens’ ghost story The Signalman is heading beneath Brighton Station for an immersive theatre run in an abandoned railway tunnel. Hydrocracker’s new version plays from 15 October to 8 November 2026, turning Cab Road Tunnel into a stage for one of Dickens’ darkest psychological tales.
At a glance
- Dates: 15 October–8 November 2026
- Venue: Cab Road Tunnel beneath Brighton Station
- Age guidance: 12+
- Adaptation: Jonathan Holloway
- Director: Nathan Crossan-Smith
CHECK DATES & BOOK THE SIGNALMAN →
A Dickens ghost story under the station
Hydrocracker reimagines Dickens’ railway ghost story inside the atmospheric Cab Road Tunnel. The production is adapted by Jonathan Holloway, directed by Hydrocracker Co-Director Nathan Crossan-Smith and features sound design by Matt Huxley.
This is exactly the sort of adaptation that interests us: the story is familiar, but the setting changes how you experience it. An abandoned railway tunnel is rather more interesting than pretending a black-box theatre is one.
Planning a spooky Brighton trip?
Pair the show with our Brighton Theatre Guide or have a mooch through Brighton days out, theatre and spooky places before deciding what else to add.
Accessibility and practical planning
This is an unusual performance environment rather than a conventional auditorium. Brighton Dome advises that the old railway tunnel is unheated, with uneven flooring and dim light, and the performance lasts around 75 minutes without an interval. The Friday 6 November performance is BSL interpreted. Check the current production-specific access information with Brighton Dome before booking if you need adjustments, particularly because tunnel conditions and associated tours can differ from a standard theatre visit.
Why it belongs in spooky season
A Victorian ghost story, a railway tunnel and a run spanning Halloween make The Signalman a natural crossover between Theatre & Culture, Books & Adaptations and Chill & Thrill.
For more October ideas, continue into Halloween 2026 in London & the South East.
