Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle has come up with a radical vision for his stage version of Frankenstein by casting two stars - Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller - to play the much misunderstood creature.
The actors will play
Mary Shelley’s literary creations - the monster and his creator Dr Frankenstein - on alternate nights at the National Theatre when performances begin in early February on the building’s Olivier stage.
Danny Boyle’s reasoning for interchanging the actors is to keep the production fresh and exciting. Also, the show - a major coup for the National and artistic chief Nicholas Hytner - will be told from the monster’s point of view.
As a member of the National Theatre Live initiative, The Electric Palace will be screening the production live on Thursday 17th March at 7pm when the performance will star Benedict Cumberbatch as the Creature and Jonny Lee Miller as Dr Frankenstein.
Boyle, who won an Academy Award for Slumdog Millionaire, has cast two sensational actors for Frankenstein. Benedict Cumberbatch has been praised for delivering one of the year’s best performances in After The Dance and for taking the legendary Sherlock Holmes into the 21st century on BBC TV. The drama is now being broadcast in the U.S. Steven Spielberg has also cast him in a top role in his film of War Horse, based on the Michael Morpurgo novel that became a theatrical hit for the National.
Jonny Lee Miller has worked with Boyle before, playing Sick Boy in the director’s acclaimed film Trainspotting in 1996 - the year he married Angelina Jolie.
This is a return to theatre directing for Boyle, with his film credits including Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Millions, Slumdog Millionaire and his latest picture, the outstanding 127 Hours.
Tickets for Frankenstein are on sale now for £12.50 from Bridport Tourist Information Centre on 01308 424901. For more details see
www.electricpalace.org.uk
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