The revival of the highly acclaimed production of THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE, is back, and after covid delays is at the New Theatre in Cardiff this week.
While theatre’s were dark, this darkly, stylish and thrilling adaptation was available to see on demand, from the comfort of your own room. The way to see it however, is in the theatre, with an eager audience waiting to be chilled – and you will be.
Doctor Henry Jekyll is a good man. Successful within his field and respected by his peers, he’s close to a neurological discovery that will change the face of medical science forever. However, his methods are less than ethical, and when a close friend and colleague threatens to expose and destroy his work, Jekyll is forced to experiment on himself, whereupon something goes very wrong…or very right. And suddenly Jekyll has a new friend, the brutal Edward Hyde.
This adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s dark psychological fantasy, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde really immerses you in the myth and mystery of 19th century London’s fog-bound streets where love, betrayal and murder lurk at every chilling twist and turn.
It’s easy to say that it’s gripping, stylish and thought-provoking, dare we say, even unmissable theatre – but it is.
Adrian McDougall is the Artistic Director of Blackeyed Theatre, who are touring the show, he said…….
“Like everyone working in theatre, we’re desperate to get back to live performance, and I know that The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, a show that’s been two years in the making, will be worth the wait.
“Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been humbled by the support, patience and resilience of our audiences and artists, and while Covid is likely to remain a challenge during the autumn, it’s vital that theatre and theatre makers have the chance to create that live experience for audiences in a way that’s safe and sustainable.”
We put a Zoom call in to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde himself, actor BLAKE KUBENA. We talked about the role itself, and the adaptation by NICK LANE. We started by the age old question of being back on tour after lockdown. Blake also revealed a little discovery he made in Cardiff.
This is a big old tour as well, taking in something 100 dates through to May next year. Immersing audiences in the myth and mystery of 19th century London.
The cast will feature Blake Kubena (Vikings, Othello, All’s Well that Ends Well) in the titular roles, Zach Lee (Bouncers, Glass Menagerie, The Derby McQueen Affair, Treasure Island), Paige Round (Hurling Rubble at the Moon, Nobody) and Ashley Sean-Cook (Frankenstein, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Might Never Happen).
This production is adapted by NICK LANE, and was his own journey which inspired this adaptation. Nick was injured in a car accident which permanently damaged his neck and back.
He imagines Jekyll as a physically weakened man who discovers a cure for his ailments, a cure that also unearths the darkest corners of his psyche.
Nick said…..
“If someone offered me a potion that was guaranteed to make me feel the way I did before the accident, but with the side effect that I’d become ruthless and horrible – would I drink it?”
“I suppose if you were to describe the original novel as a traditional horror story, this is an attempt to find a new way to scare the audience. It’s a small cast, so I’ve tried to ramp up the physicality, the claustrophobia and the menace. And ultimately I’d like the audience to go home with the questions facing Jekyll racing around in their minds.”
This is very much an ensemble piece, as an audience we need to keep our wits about us, but the cast do even more so. The cast have a lot to do, with multiple roles played by the four members – sixteen characters to be precise.
“It’s been my practice, my stock in trade, and Blackeyed Theatre has a tradition of telling stories with smaller casts. With a story like this it works really well. In the book Jekyll and Hyde are described as two different people, but generally adaptations have the same actor playing them.”
It includes physical theatre, movement and Nick’s razor-sharp script, alongside a musical score by Tristan Parkes. But don’t worry, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde remains true to the spirit and themes of the original story.
Blackeyed Theatre have a brilliant, interactive schools resource for this show, and we would encourage you to take a look, and perhaps take students along to the show.
They have a whole series of videos specifically designed to support teachers and students either studying the text as part of an English Literature course, or choosing the production for the live review element for Drama or Performing Arts.
Exclusive offer for schools: For bookings of 25 or more, online access to an HD recording of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde is included in the cost of your booking. Contact the theatre/box office for more details. A free education pack is also available.
As for the rest of us, we can see THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE through to Saturday 13th November. Performances begin at 7:30pm with 2:30 matinees on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are priced below…..
- Tuesday – Thursday 7.30pm & Saturday 2.30pm
£14.00 – £30.00 - Friday & Saturday 7.30pm
£15.00 – £31.50 - Thursday 2.30pm
£13.00 – £24.50 - Boxes (maximum of 6 people)
From £110 – £155.00 - Standard Reductions: £3.50 off
Tuesday – Friday 7.30pm - School Parties: £15.00 each
Wednesday – Thursday
To book yours, and get more details, go HERE.
