"Really challenging" Shvorne Marks switches roles as 2:22 A Ghost Story continues its tour at the Kings Theatre

Before Christmas, she was Lauren, a guest in the house. Post Christmas, she has been Jenny, convinced that her new home is haunted.

Jenny knows that something inexplicable is going on, but her husband Sam is having none of it. They argue with each other and they argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben.

Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and if they stay up until 2:22, they might just discover what…

Shvorne shares the stage with James Bye, Grant Kilburn and the new post-Christmas Lauren in the piece, Natalie Casey. The show is at the Kings Theatre, Southsea, from Monday to Saturday, March 2-7.

“I played Lauren until November,” Shvorne says, “and then I had two days off and then started rehearsing as Jenny. I think the only other person that has changed roles before was Laura Whitmore. She did it the other way round. She played Jenny and then she played Lauren when it was in Ireland. I think this way round is more of a step up. I think Jenny is the heart of the story. It is her journey really. I would say it's an ensemble piece but everything that Jenny experiences is explored in the play.

“And actually it was really challenging to do and a lot harder than I thought to have done both parts. I've got a lot more respect for the understudies that do the parts! There are still times when Lauren is saying something and there are certain lines that come up and I'm thinking of those lines and I know those lines. But I've had to unlearn Lauren. When I found out that I was going to be Jenny I thought ‘Let's get ahead and do some character work’ but I realised that I couldn't do that all the while I was still Lauren. You can't do them both at the same time.”

Lauren was certainly a great role to play: “You get attached to characters and you have to find reasons why they do what they do but she was certainly a lot of fun. Lauren is great fun because she causes chaos. But actually playing Jenny is more challenging. She is not trying to cause chaos in the play. In fact quite the opposite. There is so much tension for her with what is happening and actually it takes me a while to come down after the show. Lauren gets a bit of release in the show but with Jenny it's very, very different.

“The big difference is that there is a huge amount of vulnerability in Jenny. She's a new mum and she has lost her way a bit. She's a bit overshadowed by Sam and we see her learning to find her voice and to vocalise her truth. For Jenny it is a bit like a coming of age story... and beyond! She's smart and she's fun and she's very caring of her child on this incredible journey for her.”

Inevitably a big part of the fun is the audience reaction: “I met someone who had seen the play 41 times! It is a real cult. When I got cast originally I told my friend and she said it was her favourite play. People are just thrilled to see it. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is fast-paced and it is funny and it just appeals to people, not just the regular theatre-goer but also people who are not really used to going to the theatre. It's one of those ones where the whole family will come out raving. The parts are really strong and it is a unique experience.”

For more details and ticket information visit www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk/whatson-event/222/