RoCo Dramatic Society - Frankenstein

Frankenstein
Based on the novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Performed; 16th-17th May 2026

Produced by Tira Teague, Mary Shalvey & Lloyd Coulson

Cast
(a-z)
The Servant – Ella Brown
Clerval – Ursula de Jonge
Victor Frankenstein – Maddie Digby
The Monster's Bride – Amélie Hendry
Felix – Penny Jones
The Landlady – Emilia Lambert
Agatha – Heidi Lambert
Captain Walton – Ariana Martinez-Fernandez
The Ghost Of William – Elias Martinez-Fernandez
Elizabeth – Olive Metcalf
The Monster – Isla Powell

Production
Junior RoCo Leaders – Tira Teague, Mary Shalvey & Lloyd Coulson
Technical Supervisor – Stephen Bartlewska-Brown
Technical Operator – Tira Teague
Costumes – Mary Shalvey & the company.
Make-Up – Alice Rayner and Mary Shalvey
Props – Mary Shalvey & the company.
Prompt – Mary Shalvey
Stage Crew – Alistair Babbington, Lloyd Coulson, Gideon Powell, Mary Shalvey and Tira Teague
Publicity Artwork & Materials – Andrew Lamb

Theatre Management
Box Office Supervisor & Front Of House Manager – Andrew Lamb
Stewards & Bar Staff – Elizabeth Breckin, Harriet-Lee Glover, Vivien Hughes, Karen Lamb, Brian Marston, Jill Marston, Elena Strefford-Caine and Eleanor Wood
First Aiders – John Burgess, Sheana Dudley and Shona Parker

RoCo wishes to thank all those members and friends who have helped to make this production possible.

Synopsis

Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant young scientist, discovers the secret of imparting life to inanimate matter. After assembling and animating a grotesque 'monster' from collected body parts, he soon abandons his creation in horror. Cruelly rejected by society, the intelligent, lonely creature seeks after its creator for revenge.

Junior RoCo Leader Notes

"Our juniors are so talented and hard working I'm sincerely excited to show them off! A Juniors production is a natural next step after a few years of excellent hard work from our juniors. Our sessions have become more formal, we’ve been taking on more opportunities to perform for an audience and building on our improv skills with more script work. We recently performed in our first variety show and have taken some sessions with a professional acting coach. As the Juniors met each challenge, it became increasingly clear that it was time for the Juniors to do a full scripted show. We wanted to offer something that would compliment their school work and be suitable for siblings, friends and other family to enjoy, but also be very challenging in a number of ways. Frankenstein fit the bill and we set to work! This show would not be possible if it weren’t for the talent, skill and hard work we could rely on from our juniors. It includes careful prop work, makeup, technical elements and some quite thrilling stage combat.

Stage combat is of course something we take very seriously. The RoCo adults use it sparingly but to great effect so being able to draw on that experience was really valuable. However, as amazing as it has been to be able to incorporate those elements into the show, I do think the best stuff is what our Juniors were already doing very well. The characterisation work is amazing. Each and every character in the show has depth and layers which allows our performers to express both the horror and tragic elements of this classic gothic horror. I am so very proud of our Juniors. It’s wonderful that they have friends in the group, that they support each other and welcome and encourage new members. It’s wonderful that they humour me so well with my silly warmups and my welcome circle. It’s a credit to them that they work hard and perform some lovely scenes within our group for each other and that they can give appropriate constructive feedback. That on top of all of that they can perform a play full of complex themes and convey them all clearly is stunning."

– Tira Teague (Junior RoCo Leader)

"Making the decision to put on a full production with just our Junior RoCo members has been one of the most positive decisions RoCo has made in many, many years. Whilst the Juniors always enjoy the tasks we set them in our weekly sessions, being involved in a production with costumes, tech, props, set, direction make-up and everything else in-between, has given them all a proper insight into the full stage performing experience. Whilst making casting decisions was really difficult (we had at least 3 options for the main roles), the team has pulled together and understands that there is more to putting on a production than who gets which role. Frankenstein has opened some good discussion around whether a monstrous appearance means a person is evil or whether society turns a good person monstrous.

Every one of the Juniors has grown immensely in developing their skills in stage performing, and have all shown great commitment to learning lines and taking direction positively and effectively. We are immensely proud and cannot wait to see them take to the stage."

– Mary Shalvey (Junior RoCo Leader)

"I love Frankenstein. I'm both incredibly proud, and incredibly jealous, of our Juniors performing it. Over the three years since the Juniors returned, our young actors have performed amazingly in murder mysteries, the panto, nativities and in the variety show. They've grown so much as performers and were well overdue a full show of their own! Our sessions have become a bit more structured and serious since we started this project, especially in these last few weeks before the show. The Juniors have risen to that challenge spectacularly. They've been able to earnestly explore the complex themes and emotions involved in a piece like Frankenstein, without loosing the chaotic, silly, joy that they've always brought. And having been on the production side of a few shows over the years, I wish all our performers in the RoCo group took direction as well as our Juniors!

As a more occasional Junior RoCo Leader, it's been a real privilege for me to return full time and meet the new faces, and changing faces, of our young actors. I would be remiss not to give Tira and Mary all the credit they deserve for making Junior RoCo the welcoming and nurturing space it is. From sharing a stage with the Juniors three years ago in Sad Canals, to seeing them now bring one of my favourite stories to life with such talent, working with the Juniors has been one of the greatest joys of my time with RoCo. I cannot wait to see what they do next."

– Lloyd Coulson (Junior RoCo Leader)

Photo Gallery

Browse a selection of photos taken during the rehearsals of Frankenstein, along with a selection of the publicity artwork produced for the production.

The Poster