Although the ghost that haunts the eighteenth century Theatre Royal has not been seen since 1975 there is no suggestion that she has moved on to pleasanter pastures and could well return. According to Christina Hole, a renowned folk-lore expert, in her brilliant work, 'Haunted England' the inexplicable sound of organ music was heard coming from the theatre at 2.20 one morning in the 1930`s. The melody was repeated about an hour later but never heard again. Whether this was in any way connected with the far more modern haunting is difficult now to establish. The building incorporates many portions of St Leonard's Hospital, established at the time of King Stephen in the twelfth century. The social centre and club room of the theatre are actually sectors of the original crypt. Tradition has it that one of the nuns that served the hospital as a nurse was walled up alive in a tiny cell behind a dressing room, near the dress circle. However, legend tells of dozens of monks and nuns being imprisoned in this fashion but few, if any actually suffered this fate. John Mitchell, author of 'Ghosts of an Ancient City' states that many occupants of the affected dressing room have mentioned the strange but intense feeling of being watched. A leading actress, Marjorie Rowland, when standing at the back of the dress circle saw the figure ` Dressed in a grey robe with a white cuff, leaning over the edge of the stage box`. This description is rather that of a novice, a trainee nun who is unlikely so early to have undergone immurement unless carrying it out as part of an initiation act. In 1965 the 'Daily Sketch' published a letter from Harry Bennett who whilst playing at the theatre, was given permission to `try and lay the ghost`. `Several of us occupied the dressing room` he says ` and soon we heard footsteps. The atmosphere became eerie and cold. Then, to out astonishment. the figure of a tall woman appeared, hooded and in a grey gown. She entered the room through the closed door and as one of the company screamed the main lights were put on. With that the apparition vanished.` The group who saw the nun in 1975 were members of the cast of 'Dear Octopus'. At one point in the play, they suddenly noticed a light developing slowly in the circle. As they watched it increased in brilliance and finally took the appearance of the head and shoulders of a woman, surrounded by `some form of hood or cowl`. A few seconds later the phantom slowly faded away, After a few minutes discussion, the cast resumed rehearsals only to be given a repeat performance a few moments later, though with less intensity.

� Andrew Green