Dare to scare: New production of Frankenstein puts Mary Shelley front and centre

It’s one of the most famous monster stories ever told. But a new production of Frankenstein will throw its author into the heart of the action, as she wrestles not only with her creation, but the realities facing revolutionary young women, then and now.

Renowned Scottish playwright, Rona Munro, has written the adaptation of Mary Shelley’s enduring classic.

And Eilidh Loan, the actress playing Shelley, says Rona and Mary’s words are a “combination like no other”.

“To work on this play and character, with two inspirational women coming together to tell the story, is unbelievable,” said Eilidh, from Erskine.

“For this to be my debut role on stage, to play such a strong woman, is incredible.

“The play is like nothing we’ve seen of this story before. It’s a completely new version – you see how Mary puts the tale together at such a young age, of the time period she’s in, of not conforming to the restrictions of that era, and letting her imagination run.

“We’ve been very lucky to have Rona involved with rehearsals.

“That’s been a blessing. I’ve worshipped her work and I think she’s one of the most brilliant playwrights out there. It’s a dream come true.”

© Perth Theatre

The production receives its world premiere in Perth Theatre in two weeks’ time, before embarking on a UK tour.

It will return to Scotland at the King’s in Edinburgh in October, then the Theatre Royal in Glasgow the following month, before playing His Majesty’s in Aberdeen and Inverness’ Eden Court Theatre in February.

Rona, who received acclaim for The James Plays trilogy, says it was important to put Mary Shelley front and centre.

“Every version of Frankenstein I’ve seen becomes about Victor Frankenstein and the Creature, so you have these two very iconic male protagonists,” she said.

“The thing that seems to get completely obliterated is this came from the mind of an 18-year-old woman – and a very intelligent and talented one at that.

“She’s become completely invisible in the narrative of Frankenstein and even when she is credited with its creation it’s almost as if she did it organically or spontaneously, as if she didn’t know what she was doing and it was just a mad dream.

“Mary wasn’t trying to corner a market or to write a well-behaved novel of her time.

“She was actually trying to shake things up a bit.

“Both she and the people she hung out with were social revolutionaries, so there’s a lot of anger in it and there’s also a desire to change the world in the way we rely on the young to bring that fire to things.

“There’s a lot of that in Frankenstein and I hope it comes over in the play.

“She’s a character in this version. If I said she was a narrator it would give the impression it’s about storytelling, but it’s such a more active role than that.

“The book is all her voice, when you think about it.

“I’ve just put that voice on stage as a character, so you can see the story but you also see some of the emotional journey she went through to create it.”

Eilidh, who starred in a BBC three-part series as Lady Jane Grey, the teenage girl who reigned as Queen of England for nine days in July 1553, added: “I can’t wait to step out on stage playing Mary Shelley, especially at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow in front of all my family and friends.

“It will be a very special moment.”

Frankenstein, Perth Theatre, September 5-21