Review of The Signalman By Lynn Carroll

February 27, 2026

Before I even took my seat I was mightily impressed by the stage set. A cutaway signal box with many props showing a homely little room complete with fireplace, kettle, books, lamps and so forth. To the left a very realistic video projection of a tunnel opening with train tracks filling the stage to the front and a fair way back into the tunnel. To the far left an array of realistic greenery covering an embankment.

This will be good, I thought to myself and sure enough the sound effects and further visuals did not disappoint. The noisome racket of an old time steam train complete with whistles and copious amounts of steam assailed our senses and could not have been bettered, in my opinion, on stage. More than once we were treated to this spectacle and something else at the tunnel entrance, I will say no more.

The opening scene began with an elderly signalman pottering around the outside of the signal box and alongside the tracks, seeing to his duties before entering his little room where he would spend his nights making sure the trains ran safely. Without giving too much away it is not long before he hears someone shouting, a gentleman on a rambling holiday who scrambles down the embankment and introduces himself.

A little suspicious at first the signalman then invites him into the signal box where they take tea and chat, from that point the story unfolds.

I could easily imagine I was watching two gentlemen from the Victorian era, pocket watch and costumes were spot on. On occasion I struggled to hear every word of dialogue but not enough to distract from my understanding of the plot.

Whilst acknowledging this was a Charles Dickens short story I found myself thinking it was maybe an early effort that lacked the depth of storytelling his later works would show. However, I realised I was being totally unfair to compare his written works to a short story play, like all book adaptations it will not satisfy as much as reading the words an author spends much time and passion in committing to their work. But being inquisitive I found that it was actually written in 1866, just four years prior to his death, and just one year after surviving the Staplehurst rail crash in June 1865. This traumatic event affected him deeply and influenced the theme of this story. In later life he became a member of the ‘Ghost Club’ and his interest in the supernatural increased. One might wonder how much of his personal experience went into this story as he was also known for blending fact and fiction quite seamlessly. Go along and see for yourself. It is not the type of story to have you jumping in your seat but you will certainly sense an aura of the supernatural.