Lancaster Footlights Present Frankenstein
Lancaster Footlights Present Frankenstein
9–17 October 2026
This October, Lancaster Footlights bring a gripping new production of FRANKENSTEIN by Nick Dear, based on the iconic novel by Mary Shelley, to Lancaster Grand Theatre from 9–17 October.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has become one of the most enduring stories in literature, inspiring countless adaptations across theatre, film and television. First published anonymously in 1818, Shelley’s novel explored ideas that remain remarkably relevant today, including scientific ambition, responsibility, isolation, prejudice and what it means to be human.
Nick Dear’s acclaimed stage adaptation places the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his creation at its heart, offering a powerful and unsettling perspective on Shelley’s Gothic masterpiece.
When Frankenstein meets his creation for the first time, he is consumed by horror and disgust. Abandoning the Creature, he leaves him to navigate a world filled with prejudice and hostility. The Creature’s child-like innocence cannot withstand the rejection he faces, and his innate goodness gives way to a dark and vengeful malevolence.
Determined to make his creator pay, the Creature embarks on a terrifying journey of revenge, seeking a single hope: a deal with Frankenstein that could ultimately mean his salvation. As the consequences of Frankenstein’s actions unfold, the production explores the responsibilities that come with scientific and medical advancement, the devastating impact of parental neglect and abandonment, and the fragile boundary between good and evil.
Rather than presenting the Creature simply as a monster, Nick Dear’s adaptation invites audiences to consider the circumstances that create one. At its heart, Frankenstein asks difficult questions about responsibility, rejection and whether humanity is defined by our origins or by the choices we make.
Lancaster Footlights’ production embraces the dark Gothic atmosphere of the story while incorporating Steampunk-inspired design elements, creating a visually striking world in which scientific ambition and Victorian Gothic horror collide.
The result promises an atmospheric and emotionally powerful theatrical experience, bringing one of literature’s most recognisable stories to life on the Lancaster Grand Theatre stage.
With its combination of Gothic horror, human drama and thought-provoking themes, FRANKENSTEIN offers audiences a fresh opportunity to experience Mary Shelley’s timeless story and consider why, more than 200 years after its publication, the tale of Victor Frankenstein and his creation continues to fascinate and disturb.
Lancaster Footlights present FRANKENSTEIN by Nick Dear, based on the novel by Mary Shelley, from 9–17 October at Lancaster Grand Theatre.
Lancaster Footlights’ licence to present Nick Dear’s version of FRANKENSTEIN, from the novel by Mary Shelley, is granted by Rosica Colin Limited, London.
Content warning: This production includes a depiction of sexual violence.
Age recommendation: 15+
More information & tickets: Here
Images: Bradverts Multimedia
