About Frankenstein: A Double Bill

5 Stars
Jaw-droppingly talented dancers perform wonders… Mark Bruce must be one of the most entertainingly brave proponents of dance anywhere.
Stage Talk on Return to Heaven, 2020

Mark Bruce presents his surreal and timeless adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic gothic novel, Frankenstein. Alchemy and science collide as Dr. Frankenstein, goaded by an otherworldly entity, unlocks the secrets of the creation of life. Jonathan Goddard plays the role of Frankenstein’s tragic monster, sewn together from the shreds of humanity, rejected and wandering in a timeless landscape, beautifully portrayed in this profound and deeply moving production. Frankenstein features evocative music from Chopin, Penderecki and Arvo Pärt.

Frankenstein is preceded by a shorter work, Liberation Day. A powerful, contemplative dance work about life, love, and the passing of time, danced to songs written by Bruce. With a unique choreographic language, distinctive imagery and eclectic musical scores, Bruce’s work draws from a broad spectrum of influences and has a strong cinematic quality. This multi-award-winning dance theatre company presents an exceptional cast of six dancers together with the world-class creative team which brought you previous productions such as Dracula, The Odyssey, Macbeth and Phantoms, a triple bill.

About Mark Bruce Company

Mark Bruce has choreographed, directed and danced internationally for over 30 years, working with Rosas, Bern Ballet, Ballet Black, Introdans, Gibson/Martelli, Probe, and DJazzex among others.

He formed the Mark Bruce Company in 1991, his production of Dracula (2013) won the Sky Arts South Bank award for Dance, the National Dance Award for Best Male Dancer for Jonathan Goddard as Dracula, and the award for Best Independent Company. Bruce's production of The Odyssey (2016) and his Macbeth (2018) both received National Dance Awards nominations for their dancers. In 2023 the company was also nominated for Best Mid-Scale Company at the National Dance Awards.

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Cast and Creatives

Dancers:Cordelia Braithwaite, Anna Daly, Eleanor Duval, Jonathan Goddard, Carina Howard, Dominic Rocca.
Writer, Choreographer and Director: Mark Bruce
Costume Design: Dorothee Brodrück
Lighting Design: Guy Hoare
Set Design: Phil Eddolls

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.Commissioned by DanceEast.