Jaz Singh Deol is part of the cast for the world premiere of The Psychic, the new dark thriller from Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, opening at York Theatre Royal this spring. Following their international hit Ghost Stories, the writing and directing duo return with another unsettling theatrical experience.
In The Psychic, audiences are drawn into a story of belief, deception and consequence as a disgraced TV psychic is pulled into a séance that spirals into something far more dangerous. Jaz Singh Deol plays Deepak, joining an ensemble cast led by Frances Barber and Eileen Walsh.
The Psychic runs at York Theatre Royal from 29 April to 23 May 2026, with press night on 6 May. Tickets and full details are available here.
You’re starring in The Psychic at York Theatre Royal. What can you tell us about the show?
The Psychic explores the shadowy world of spiritualism, focusing on the complex relationship between mediums and their clients. It asks where comfort ends and dependency begins.
At its heart, the play examines how grief, belief, and vulnerability can blur the line between healing and harm.
What first drew you to this project and to working with Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman on a brand-new world premiere?
Honestly, the names drew me in straight away. Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman have such a distinct voice, and you know you’re in safe hands with storytellers who understand both tension and humanity.
But what really sealed it was the script. It’s beautifully crafted and layered, exploring what family really means in a world where belief and illusion collide.
It doesn’t shy away from darker territory, but it’s wrapped in entertainment and that unmistakable British humour, which makes the whole experience both unsettling and incredibly engaging.
You play Deepak. How would you describe this character and their place within the story without giving too much away?
Deepak is a man navigating grief, and the question at the heart of his journey is how far you’re willing to go to feel close to someone you’ve lost.
Is that need something unhealthy, or is it completely human, maybe even necessary?
He sits right at the centre of that tension in the story. I wish I could say more, but I’d be giving too much away… you’ll have to come and see it.
The Psychic is described as a dark thriller with shocks and humour. How does the balance between tension and comedy play out in the rehearsal room and on stage?
Oh, it happens all the time. You can be right in the middle of something really intense and emotional, and suddenly someone’s on the edge of tears or laughter. Sometimes both.
I think that’s because the truest moments often carry a kind of unexpected humour. In rehearsal, we’ve really leaned into that, allowing the tension to build but not being afraid of the release.
On stage, that balance becomes part of the rhythm of the piece. The comedy doesn’t undercut the darkness; it actually makes it sharper.
As an actor who works across stage and screen, what has been particularly exciting or challenging about bringing this story to life in the theatre?
It’s the rawness of it. You can’t fake anything in theatre, it has to be real, especially with a story like this, because we’re representing people who genuinely believe in this world and, in many cases, need it.
The challenge is going there night after night, emotionally and truthfully. But that’s also the joy of it.
Each performance is a chance to create something immediate and alive, an experience for the audience that only exists in that room, on that night, and hopefully stays with them long after.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see The Psychic?
Come prepared to be entertained, unsettled, and laughing, sometimes all at once.
It will challenge you to think about the showman community in a way you may not have before and raise questions about what it really means to be a family.
The tension is real, and it pulls you right in. We’ve got a phenomenal cast and an incredible creative team behind it, and I genuinely believe it won’t disappoint.
It’s one of those experiences that gets under your skin, in the best way.
