Jeff James' 21st-century adaptation of Mary Shelley's Gothic classic, staged as a psychological thriller about what it is to be human.
Frankenstein runs at Leeds Playhouse from 12 May to 29 May 2027, a bold 21st-century adaptation of Mary Shelley's Gothic classic written and directed by Jeff James. Rather than a straightforward retelling, it's staged as a psychological thriller that asks 'what is it to be human?'. James frames the story as a warning from the past about the perils of the future, set in an age of artificial intelligence and unprecedented scientific discovery when questions of progress, power and responsibility remain as relevant as they were 200 years ago.
What sets this production apart is the staging. It's known for being strikingly visual and intensely physical, with everyday objects transformed on stage into glaciers, a ship at sea, a dissecting room and a house on fire. It's the kind of thing that works better in person than on a screen, where the physical transformation of the set does a lot of the heavy lifting.
Critics have described it as 'daring, dazzling and deep', 'boldly innovative yet faithful' and 'an incredibly striking piece of theatre'. It's a run of more than two weeks, so there's plenty of room to find a date that works for you.
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You'll find it at Leeds Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UP, from 12 May to 29 May 2027.
