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June 17 - July 2, 2016, The Gym, The Arts Centre
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 Frankenstein Ubu Night to see images from the work's development. 
Image by Damia Prat
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. 
Image by Damia Prat
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. 
Image by Stuart Lloyd-Harris
Image by Damia Prat
[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. 
Image by Damia Prat
Image by Stuart Lloyd-Harris
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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? 
Image by Damia Prat
ReviewsThis 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. Particle physics and neuro science and an extensive range of textual references have their mention, but is the hypnotic rhythm of a song of exhortation from Dr Frankenstein, hair down now, and dance from the assembled prototypes that seals the event. Christchurch's Free Theatre prides itself on offering up shows that push boundaries and strive to be outside the box. But the group's latest show, Frankenstein, pushes too far.... My theatre companion 'just didn't get it' and I'm on the fence. Loathe it or love it though, it's worth seeing because you'll never see anything like it. 
ArticlesFrankenstein 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 
As I say, I see myself as not only a scientist but as an artist. Or, more precisely, to be a true scientist is to be an artist, to dream, imagine, to hope and to discover and create the new. And the true artist is equally a scientist, moved by man’s plight and in search of a better world – that is, concerned with things that really matter rather than a hustler selling junk to intoxicate and anesthetize his fellow man, although this seems to make the money we so urgently need. 
Image by Damia Prat
[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! 
Image by Damia Prat
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. 
Image by Stuart Lloyd-Harris
Image by Damia Prat
ResearchLiz Boldt used this production as part of her research for her PhD A Constant Magic: Explorations of Magic and polyphasic consciousness in recent Theatre and Film, University of Canterbury, 2017.
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Images from the Frankenstein Ubu Night in September 2015, which served as a launching pad for the larger production.
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Image by Damia Prat
