The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, celebrates the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s incredible Frankenstein this spring with a brand-new adaption by playwright April De Angelis.

Audiences will be able to step inside Victor Frankenstein’s nightmare as Director Matthew Xia explores the complex issues of identity, society, responsibility, superiority and ambition in his fast-paced version of this unsettling gothic spectacular.

Trapped in a mountain of ice, Captain Walton’s ambition to conquer the North Pole stalls in its tracks. Out on the frozen wastes something stirs…wretched and barely alive, Victor Frankenstein is dragged on board. In his fever he recounts a tale of a young scientist, a man with soaring ambition, a tall tale of monstrous creation. In the horror of the story the ice breaks and the ship creaks to life, but is there one last chapter in this bloody account?

The Royal Exchange Theatre production stars Shane Zaza (Happy Valley) who steps into Victor Frankenstein’s shoes and Ryan Gage (The Musketeers) who takes on the role of Captain Walton.  Harry Attwell returns to the Exchange following his role in TWELFTH NIGHT as Shelly’s tormented Creature.

Matthew Xia was Associate Artistic Director at the Royal Exchange until December 2017, his work for the theatre includes the award-winning WISH LIST by Katherine Soper, Into The Woods for Christmas 2015 and Brink. Other theatre credits include: Dublin Carol (Sherman Theatre), Blue/Orange, The Sound of Yellow (Young Vic), Sizwe Banzi is Dead (Eclipse Theatre & Young Vic). As a DJ, composer and former BBC 1Xtra broadcaster he has performed as Excalibah across the UK and Europe, including an appearance at the Paralympic Opening Ceremony. Matthew is a founding member of Act for Change.

Shane Zaza makes his Royal Exchange debut in Frankenstein. His other theatre credits include Road and Two (Royal Court Theatre) and Behind the Beautiful Forevers (National Theatre). Recent television credits include Black Mirror (Netflix) and the forthcoming BBC One show Press by Mike Bartlett. Also making his first appearance is Ryan Gage his theatre credits include The Miser (Garrick Theatre) and American Justice (Arts Theatre). Alongside playing Louis XIII in The Musketeers (BBC) Ryan can also be seen in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit as Alfrid.

The cast is completed by Esther McAuley, Gerard McDermott, Shanaya Rafaat, Colin Ryan and Nicola Sloane. The creative team includes Designer: Ben Stones, Movement Director: Angela Gasparetto, Lighting Designer: Johanna Town and Sound Designer: Mark Melville

Where and when is Frankenstein performed in Manchester?

Frankenstein is performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre from 9 March until 14 April 2018.  Tickets priced from £17.00

image credit University of Salford Press Office/flickr under creative commons