An Intriguing Night at Groundlings Theatre

Groundlings Theatre Portsmouth

Returning to Groundlings Theatre for another investigation was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. This old, historic building, with its rich past and the whispers of spiritual presences lingering within its walls, always promises something unexpected. Our team was eager to see if we could connect with the spirits still said to roam its halls, and I’m excited to share what we experienced.

As the night unfolded, we began with a sense of anticipation, setting up our equipment and mentally preparing for what lay ahead. Right at the start of the evening, things got interesting. Through various interactions, we felt that we made contact with spirit children, a belief supported by the energy and activities we encountered. These children, who we think were orphans suffering mistreatment, still seem to seek connection, especially when certain triggers like music or gentle coaxing are used.

From our intuition - there is most definitely a cellar were bodies of the children lay at unrest... we need to prove our theory.

One of the first significant moments involved the human pendulum technique. For those unfamiliar, this is where one person stands in the centre of the room, asking questions, and the spirit allegedly moves them forward for "yes" answers or backward for "no." It can be intense, and on this occasion, we noticed distinct shifts in the volunteer’s position, which seemed to correspond to our questions. It felt as if we were genuinely communicating with these lost souls.

We also captured plenty of orbs on our cameras, those mysterious, floating lights that often appear in haunted locations. While sceptics may argue that orbs are nothing more than dust particles, the nature of what we caught was hard to dismiss. One instance, in particular, stood out, a string of orbs that moved in a deliberate manner. It wasn’t random or erratic like dust; this was a calculated movement, as if someone (or something) was making its presence known.

The Ouija board session brought another layer of intrigue. It’s always a controversial tool, and opinions about its reliability differ widely, but that night, it gave us consistent responses. The planchette moved across the board with intent, spelling out words and providing us with answers that felt too specific to be mere coincidence. It's easy to brush off this kind of communication as wishful thinking, but the energy in the room seemed to change when the board was active. You could feel it in the air, that heaviness and the sense of being watched.

Adding to the eerie atmosphere were the shadows and movements some of our team saw. Out of the corner of their eyes, they spotted figures moving, flickering in and out of sight. These weren’t fleeting impressions either, several people reported similar sightings in different parts of the building. It's one thing to feel something; it's another to have visual confirmation, even if it's brief and shadowy.

As the night wore on, we continued to explore the theatre, hoping to capture more evidence. However, while we felt the presence of spirits and saw those early signs of activity, the rest of the night offered a quieter, more subdued atmosphere. This isn’t uncommon in paranormal investigations—activity can ebb and flow, and not every session will produce overwhelming results. In fact, part of the thrill lies in the unpredictability.

Looking back, it was an interesting night with a small but intriguing amount of evidence. The orbs, human pendulum responses, Ouija board communication, and shadowy figures all suggest that something is still very active in Groundlings Theatre. What these presences want, and why they continue to linger, remains a mystery. Every investigation brings us one step closer to understanding.

For me, the investigation wasn’t just about gathering evidence; it was about the personal connection to the spirits, especially the children. Each time we visit Groundlings, I feel like we’re building rapport, slowly gaining their trust. Whether they seek closure or simply acknowledgment, we’re there to listen, to ask questions, and to understand.

Groundlings continues to be a fascinating location for paranormal investigation, and I can’t wait to return. There’s a sense that we’ve only scratched the surface of what this building has to offer. Who knows what future visits will bring, more evidence, perhaps, or even a deeper connection with the spirits that call this place home?

Stay tuned, because there’s certainly more to come.