Mrs Penclosa by Patrick Prior

Set in 1920s London, Mrs Penclosa is a haunting new play by Patrick Prior, premiering at the Venture Theatre. Inspired by a story from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this chilling tale explores the fragile boundary between reason and the unknown.

When the rational and highly respected Professor Austin Gilroy agrees to investigate Mrs Penclosa—an unassuming East End medium reputed to possess extraordinary powers—he expects to expose little more than illusion and trickery. Instead, he finds himself drawn into a world he cannot explain, where skepticism gives way to fascination, and fascination to dangerous obsession.

As Mrs Penclosa’s influence deepens, Gilroy’s carefully ordered life begins to unravel. His career, his engagement, and even his grip on reality are placed under threat as he falls further under her spell. What emerges is a disturbing portrait of control, desire, and psychological entrapment.

Atmospheric and unsettling, Mrs Penclosa is a striking new theatrical work that delves into themes of power, isolation, and the human need to believe—inviting audiences into a world where the mind itself may be the most dangerous force of all.