E. NESBIT’S The Railway Children will make a third return to the National Railway Museum in this summer. More immediately, the little-known story of Edith Nesbit’s personal life in Philip Meeks’s play Edith In The Dark is returning to Harrogate Theatre.

In the winter of 2013 it received its premiere in Keith Hukin’s thrilling production in the Studio; this week Blue Merrick returns in the title role but in new surroundings: the deliciously sinister drama is transferring to the main house from tomorrow until March 14.

“We did enjoy the intimacy of the Studio space, and we felt it helped the story, so that most of the audience felt like they were in the attic with us, but we’re now very excited to be performing it on the main stage in such a beautiful theatre,” says Blue.

E. Nesbit was renowned as an author of children’s stories, but she was also a mistress of Victorian Gothic horror, penning chilling stories of the paranormal with a genteel elegance that underlies their flesh-creeping nature.

In Meeks’s play, Edith escapes her annual festive soiree and finds herself in her attic writing room with a young male guest and Biddy Thricefold, her loyal housekeeper. The trio decide to read each other scary stories to help ward off wicked spirits, choosing four stories penned by Nesbit herself. Suffused with vampire plants, zombies, ghosts and all manner of terrifying creations, all is not what it seems as they explore the darker side of Nesbit’s imagination, and one person in the attic is hiding a deadly secret.

“It’s fabulous to have a second chance to do it,” says Blue. “We originally understood that it would just be the 2013 Studio Christmas show and that would be that, so to do it again now is like a dream.”

• Edith In The Dark runs at Harrogate Theatre from tomorrow until March 14 at 7.30pm plus 2.30pm on the last day. Box office: 01423 502116 or at harrogatetheatre.co.uk