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“When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, a monster, a blot upon the earth from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?” Premiered at The Gym
June 17 - July 2 2016 Currently in development for touring This is a really fun, wry and accessible show that finely balances spectacle, performance and audience engagement, and the show’s terrific opening image alone is worth attendance. |
I was reluctant to move to Christchurch with my husband after the earthquakes remembering it as an angry provincial town. Free Theatre is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bland cultural city. If a group like this, which would be celebrated in great cities for the extraordinary work they do, is not supported it does not bode well for the city. It's not the size of the place, it's the narrow-minded mentality that stifles any hope for it to be an interesting place to live in. Having now seen Frankenstein, I can say that this city doesn't know how lucky it is to have this very special company in its midst. Bravo. I know I'm one of many that looks forward to whatever you present next - you provide us with hope.
Stuff.co.nz - comments
About Frankenstein...Scientist and artist Dr Frankenstein invites you to be part of one of the most exciting projects of modern times as he is on the brink of creating a perfect human being. With your generous support, he can take this final step and create a new man. Come and hear the Doctor talk about his remarkable discoveries and see the extraordinary prototypes that have led to this exciting possibility.
Directed by Peter Falkenberg and with a set designed by Stuart Lloyd-Harris, Frankenstein is a production that will provide a feast for the senses. Music, dance, film and puppetry all play a part in this engaging multimedia performance which will envelop its audiences in a magical, mystical, mythical spectacle. Frankenstein follows the success of our popular Ubu Nights and ongoing projects The Mauricio Kagel Project (presented at last year’s Christchurch Arts Festival), Kafka's Amerika and I Sing the Body Electric and is performed in Christchurch’s contemporary performance space, The Gym in the Arts Centre. See your blog page to see how we developed the work. |
Previews and Reviews
"Finely balances spectacle, performance and audience engagement"
Erin Harrington, Theatreview, 18 June 2016 "Intriguing pageant of ideas and theatrical wizardry" Lin Clark, Theatreview, 19 June 2016 "Free Theatre's latest offering "completely mad"" Georgina Stylianou, The Press, 18 June 2016 "Frankenstein comes alive again at Christchurch's Free Theatre" Charlie Gates, The Press, 14 June 2016 "Christchurch's experimental Free Theatre in "precarious state" Charlie Gates, The Press, 10 June 2016 |
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"I came to the Frankenstein performance last night, and I just want to say thank you so much, we really enjoyed it. Your performances always leave me feeling like I have been jump started back into real life again. I took my partner who has recently emigrated here from Japan and she said it was the first time since she arrived that she felt like she was in a proper cultural city again. Thanks for everything, keep up the great work. We are looking forward to your future projects."
"[I] wanted to let you guys know that I saw your show tonight and thought it was incredible, the dedication and commitment from every performer was so essential and you all beautifully manipulated the energy of the audience. Left with a lot to talk about - on our drive home we discussed souls and the limitations of our physical bodies, where science has (and will) lead us, the nature of performing. And also about how polished it was in general (absolutely loved the sampled texts incl. the obscure and brief passages from Shelley's diaries etc) -- you managed to capture the ethereal essence of Shelley's tradition whilst forging a new experiential aesthetic. Totally loved and was moved by it, congratulations to all!"
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“[I] think of it as a tribute to the enduring relevance of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, with text sourced from Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, Janet Frame and references to modern horror films. It comments on our modern obsession with image and challenges whether perfection is something we should strive for or whether by striving for perfection we turn ourselves into 'monsters'. Well...that was my interpretation of it anyway. It's the best piece of theatre I've seen in ages! And very, very creepy and disturbing. I like creepy and disturbing."
"Thanks so much for having us last night, what a treat! It really is a whole other world in there, so great to experience something transformative like that. It's been ages. All the best for an excellent season. Please pass on our thanks to the whole cast and crew. It's a great show."
