New stage adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to tour the UK

A new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s iconic Gothic tale Frankenstein is to tour the UK.

imitating the dog and Leeds Playhouse are to reunite to co-produce the show which will premiere at the Playhouse from 15 February 2024 .

It will then tour to Oxford Playhouse, Watford Palace Theatre, The Lowry, Salford Quays, Cast Doncaster, Mercury Theatre Colchester, Liverpool Playhouse and The Dukes Lancaster with more venues to be announced.

A storm gathers outside as a couple pack up a room. Clothes and toys are carefully stored away in boxes and bags. Lightning flashes. Picking up a book, the woman reads aloud. It’s a story about ambition and playing God, and about what happens when we bring new life into the world. It’s also about rejection, horror, and revenge. It’s the story of Frankenstein.

As the couple confront their own fears, they recreate a version of Frankenstein that erupts into life as everyday objects are transformed into glaciers, a ship at sea, a dissecting room, a house on fire…

Created by imitating the dog’s co-artistic directors Pete Brooks, Andrew Quick and Simon Wainwright, this is the latest adaptation in a series of dark tales imitating the dog and Leeds Playhouse have successfully reimagined. Previous hits include the highly acclaimed unique shot-for-shot stage recreation of George A. Romero’s 1968 zombie classic Night of The Living Dead™ – Remix and the award-winning adaptation Dracula: The Untold Story.

The creative team features design by Hayley Grindle, lighting by Andrew Crofts, and original music composed by James Hamilton. Casting will be announced in the coming months.

Andrew Quick, Co-Director and Artistic Director of imitating the dog said: “Mary Shelley’s extraordinary novel has shaped storytelling since the 19th Century and provided source material for films, novels, poems, and art. Having already adapted Heart of Darkness (2018) and Dracula (2020), we feel ready to take on this complex and moving tale, one which explores the consequences of refusing love, of playing at being God, of not taking responsibility.”

Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Leeds Playhouse James Brining added: “We are keen to explore classic canonical texts from a contemporary perspective, reshaping and refashioning them for modern audiences. Co-producing with imitating the dog gives us the opportunity to do that – and more. They are a company at the forefront of using fresh perspectives and innovative technology to create dazzling, challenging theatre. When our teams join forces, the results are truly magical.”