Secret doors, hidden rooms and ten ghosts – is this the setting for a new crime novel?

Is this the next setting for a DI Andy Horton crime novel? Or perhaps a totally new one. Contemporary or historical crime? There was plenty of material for me when I went on location research at the small, unique Georgian Theatre in Portsmouth, Groundlings Theatre. I was treated to a tour of it by Richard Stride, artistic director and owner.





Groundlings Theatre is a Grade II * historic listed building built in 1784 in the waterfront city of Portsmouth. It is a truly atmospheric place with secret doors, hidden rooms and ten ghosts! And along with the ghosts it still has a lot of the original features such as original floorboards and fire places. It was founded by philanthropic patrons, John Shakespeare (very apt) and 5 merchants, with the aim of educating the poor (boys) downstairs, in the Beneficial School, while upstairs was used by high society for meetings, concerts and theatre.




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