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BrumHour was invited to see the press night of Frankenstein by Belgrade Theatre.

By Julie Wallis twitter.com/NiceNic63

Frankenstein at
Belgrade Theatre

Director by Patricia Benecke, adapted by Rona Munro

It’s almost Halloween and the perfect time to take in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which is at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre until October 12th.

This classic horror story is lovingly depicted thanks to some superb acting. Eilidh Loan narrates throughout as Mary Shelley, as she talks us through her thought processes of bringing her nightmare monster to life and into her book. I loved this very traditional take on the story of Frankenstein, his pursuit of forbidden knowledge, his quest to create life in his laboratory and the subsequent consequences when his creation is left to roam this earth alone.

This play has small cast, with the majority of the players taking on multiple roles, but it is very well thought out and incredibly well-acted. Ben Castle-Gibb as Victor Frankenstein and Natali McCleary as Elizabeth tug at the heartstrings as they try to pursue their doomed romance, while Victor’s pursuit of his blasphemous experiments drives him to the edge of insanity and his friends and family suffer in his wake.

Ben Castle-Gibb plays his part with such enthusiasm and energy, he really is convincing as the original mad scientist. As always it’s ultimately Victor who is the real monster of the story and his sad creature broke my heart with its loneliness and despair.

Thierry Mabonga takes on the roles of both Victor’s friend Henry and Walton, the ship’s captain and is convincing in both.

The simple, beautiful set consisted of white walls lined with white shelves, which in turn held white books and some white trees. Somehow it became young Victor Frankenstein’s childhood home, his university, the arctic complete with a ship and a blind man’s woodland cottage!

So effective was this bleak white reality, I found myself shivering during some of the scenes.

Michael Moreland plays Victor’s creature, he is not 8 foot tall as per the book, but he was totally on the money as the sad, confused un-human. He was also pretty scary when he was angry and there are some genuinely frightening moments throughout as he gradually destroys the lives of Victor and those surrounding him.

Be aware this fabulous production does contain some genuine jump scares but it is good family fun.

Frankenstein is at Belgrade Theatre until 12th October. Book tickets here: belgrade.co.uk/event/frankenstein

This isn’t a sponsored post.

When not blogging theatre for #BrumHour, Julie Wallis can be found on her own blog at redandgoldweb.wordpress.com