Description
Discover the dark and fascinating world of J.B. Priestley’s Benighted in this compelling panel exploring the novel’s place within the tradition of British Gothic literature.
Bringing together leading voices in Gothic studies and performance, the discussion examines how Priestley’s eerie country house setting, psychological tension and unsettling atmosphere helped shape the enduring ‘haunted house psychodrama.’
Duncan Gates, director of the 2016 stage adaptation of Benighted at the Old Red Lion Theatre, joins Dr Xavier Aldana Reyes, founding member of Manchester Metropolitan University’s Centre for Gothic Studies, to explore the defining elements of the Gothic mode, from fear and the uncanny to architecture and isolation.
The panel will also consider the novel’s influence on later adaptations and cult classics, including The Old Dark House and even The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Perfect for lovers of literature, theatre, film and Gothic storytelling, this event reclaims Benighted as an essential and influential work within the Gothic canon.
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About the Academic
Dr Xavier Aldana Reyes
Dr Xavier Aldana Reyes is Reader in English Literature and Film at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Aldana Reyes’ books include Body Horror: Biology, Biopower, Biotechnology (2026), Contemporary Body Horror (2024), Gothic Cinema (2020) and Body Gothic (2014). Aldana Reyes is co-president of the International Gothic Association (2022-2026) and a founding member of the Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies.
About the Performer
Duncan Gates
Duncan Gates is a writer trained in playwriting at the Royal Court, Leeds Playhouse, and RADA. His many original works include Arkansas, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Yale Drama Prize and opened the Arcola’s PLAYwrought #4 new writing festival. His adaptations include J. B. Priestley’s Benighted, which received five Offie nominations at the Old Red Lion. For film and TV, Duncan was longlisted for the Channel 4/Touchpaper Coming Up scheme and wrote the multi-award-winning 2023 short film No Caller ID.
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