All Blood Runs Red: Rehearsal Images Released
3rd February 2025
Press Release
For Immediate Release
imitating the dog and Leeds Playhouse’s co-production of
FRANKENSTEIN
Inspired by Mary Shelley’s novel.
Created by Pete Brooks, Andrew Quick, and Simon Wainwright
Set and Costume Design by Hayley Grindle
Lighting Design by Andrew Crofts
Original music composed by James Hamilton
Press invited from Saturday 17 February at 2.30pm
“Remember, that I am thy creature; l ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel…”
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
imitating the dog and Leeds Playhouse reunite once again to co-produce a thrilling and moving new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s iconic Gothic tale, Frankenstein, premiering at the Playhouse from 15 February 2024 ahead of a UK tour. This new multimedia exploration of the classic novel is a psychological thriller which dares to ask the question – what is it to be human?
Created by imitating the dog’s co-artistic directors Pete Brooks, Andrew Quick and Simon Wainwright, this is the latest adaptation in a series of dark tales imitating the dog and Leeds Playhouse have successfully reimagined. Previous hits include the highly acclaimed unique shot-for-shot stage recreation of George A. Romero’s 1968 zombie classic Night of The Living Dead™ – Remix and the award-winningadaptation Dracula: The Untold Story.
A storm gathers outside as a couple pack up a room. Clothes and toys are carefully stored away in boxes and bags. Lightning flashes. Picking up a book, the woman reads aloud. It’s a story about ambition and playing God, and about what happens when we bring new life into the world. It’s also about rejection, horror and revenge. It’s the story of Frankenstein.
As the couple confront their own fears, they recreate a version of Frankenstein that erupts into life as everyday objects are transformed into glaciers, a ship at sea, a dissecting room, a house on fire…
Andrew Quick, Co-Director and Artistic Director of imitating the dog said:
“Mary Shelley’s novel has shaped storytelling since the 19th Century and provided source material for films, novels, poems and art. Having already adapted Heart of Darkness (2018) and Dracula (2020), we feel ready to take on this complex and moving tale, one which explores the consequences of refusing love, of playing at being God, of not taking responsibility.
It is wonderful to be collaborating with Leeds Playhouse again and we are seeing this adaption as an opportunity to return to our creative roots as a company. It will have all the hallmarks of an ITD show but we are renewing our interest in the physical and the visual that played out in our earlier work. Our focus is to create something truly magical, that is both moving and disturbing. It will be Frankenstein, but perhaps not as you know it.”
Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Leeds Playhouse James Brining said:
“Mary Shelley’s extraordinary Frankenstein is a radical novel that has entered the popular consciousness and continues to push boundaries 200 years after it was first created.
“We are keen to explore classic canonical texts from a contemporary perspective, reshaping and refashioning them for modern audiences. Co-producing with imitating the dog gives us the opportunity to do that – and more. They are a company at the forefront of using fresh perspectives and innovative technology to create dazzling, challenging theatre. When our teams join forces, the results are truly magical.”
The creative team features design by Hayley Grindle (Romeo and Juliet, National Theatre and Sherman Theatre), lighting by Andrew Crofts (Night of The Living Dead™ – Remix, imitating the dog; Trash Cuisine, Belarus Free Theatre and The Young Vic), and original music composed by James Hamilton. Casting will be announced in the coming months.
Imitating the dog have been making ground-breaking work for theatres and other spaces for 25 years. Their work, which fuses live performance with digital technology, has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people in venues, outdoor festivals, and events across the world. Past productions have included Hotel Methuselah, A Farewell to Arms, Heart of Darkness, Night of The Living Dead™ – Remix, Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show, Dracula: The Untold Story and most recently Macbeth. In 2022 imitating the dog presented Cinema Inferno, a groundbreaking new show for Paris haute couture house Maison Margiela, based on an original concept by John Galliano.
Leeds Playhouse is one of the UK’s leading producing theatres; a cultural hub, a place where people gather to tell and share stories and to engage in world class theatre. It makes work which is pioneering and relevant, seeking out the best companies and artists to create inspirational theatre in the heart of Yorkshire.
Frankenstein will premiere at Leeds Playhouse from 15- 24 February 2024. It will then tour to Oxford Playhouse, Watford Palace Theatre, The Lowry, Salford Quays, Cast Doncaster, Mercury Theatre Colchester, Liverpool Playhouse and The Dukes Lancaster. More venues will be announced soon.
Tickets go on general sale at Leeds Playhouse on 10 Oct. Tickets for The Lowry Salford Quays, The Dukes Lancaster and Mercury Theatre are now on sale with the remaining tour venues going on sale on the coming weeks. For further information on the Frankenstein tour visit www.imitatingthedog.co.uk
-Ends-
For further information, images, or for interview/press review ticket requests, please contact:
Duncan Clarke PR 07880893750 or duncanclarkepr@gmail.com
Rachel Marriner, Leeds Playhouse: 07729206332 or rachel.marriner@leedsplayhouse.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
PRESS IN FROM: Saturday 17 February at 2.30pm
LISTINGS INFO – OPENING VENUE
15-24 Feb at 7.45pm (22 February at 2pm; Mat: 17 & 24 at 2.30pm) – Leeds Playhouse
Box office: 0113 213 7700 / www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk
TICKETS: Tickets are on sale to Leeds Playhouse’s Priority Access, Playhouse Pass Members and Under 30 Scheme from 3 Oct, with tickets on general sale from 10 Oct.
TOUR
29 February – 2 March at 7.30pm (Mat: 2 March at 2.30pm) –Oxford Playhouse
Box office: 01865 305305 / www.oxfordplayhouse.com (on sale on 10 October)
6-9 March at 7.30pm (Mat: 7 Mar at 1pm & 9 March at 2.30pm) –Watford Palace Theatre
Box office: 01923 225671 / www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk (on sale 5 October)
12-14 March at 7.30pm (Mat: 13 March at 2pm) – The Lowry, Salford
Box office: 0161 876 2000 / www.thelowry.com (on sale now)
27-28 March at 7.30pm (Mat: 27 March at 2pm) – Cast, Doncaster
Box office: 01302 303959 / https://www.castindoncaster.com/ (On sale 23 November)
9 -11 April at 7.30pm (Mat: 10 April at 2.30pm) – Mercury Theatre, Colchester
Box office: 01206 573948 / www.mercurytheatre.co.uk (on sale now)
17-20 April at 7.30pm (Mat: 18 April at 1.30pm & 20 April at 2pm)– Liverpool Playhouse
Box office: 0151 7094776 / www.everymanplayhouse.com (on sale 1 November)
24-27 April at 7.30pm (Mat: 25 April at 1pm & 27 April at 2pm) – Dukes Lancaster
Box office: 01524 598500 / www.dukeslancaster.org (on sale now)
More dates to be announced soon.
Captioned performances will be available throughout the tour.
IMITATING THE DOG
imitating the dog (ITD) have been making ground-breaking work for theatres and other spaces for over 20 years. Their work, which fuses live performance with digital technology, has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people in venues, outdoor festivals, and events across the world.
ITD’s focus is on telling stories and creating beautiful, memorable images for audiences. The company strive to create stories that are entertaining, moving and engage with important ideas.
Recent acclaimed productions have included The Zero Hour, Six Degrees Below the Horizon, Hotel Methuselah, A Farewell to Arms and Heart of Darkness, Night of The Living Dead™ – Remix, Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show, Dracula: The Untold Story and mostrecently Macbeth. The company created the sited work Arrivals and Departures for the launch of Hull City of Culture 2017. In 2020 the company produced Airlock, a live action graphic novel as part of the BBC and Arts Council England Culture in Quarantine programme. In 2022 imitating the dog presented Cinema Inferno, a groundbreaking new show for Paris haute couture house Maison Margiela, based on an original concept by John Galliano. The company is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
ABOUT LEEDS PLAYHOUSE
Leeds Playhouse
Leeds Playhouse has been one of the UK’s leading producing theatres for more than 50 years. It is an award-winning theatre and a cultural hub, a place where people gather to tell and share stories and engage in world class theatre. Its warm welcome was recently recognised at the UK Theatre Awards, where it was named Most Welcoming Theatre 2022. It makes work which is pioneering and relevant, seeking out the best companies and artists to create inspirational theatre in the heart of Yorkshire.
A dedicated collaborator, Leeds Playhouse works with distinctive, original voices from across the UK. Its Artistic Development programme, Furnace, works with new and established theatre-makers, providing a creative space to refine their practice at all stages of their careers.
The sector-leading Creative Engagement team works with over 12,000 people every year, building, running and sustaining projects that reach out to everyone from refugee communities to young people and students, older people and people with learning disabilities. At the Playhouse, there is always a way to get involved.
As a registered charity, Leeds Playhouse relies on the support of valued partners to make great things happen. It is grateful for the continued support of Arts Council England, Leeds City Council, The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation and the many charitable trusts, business partners and individuals that continue to support the vital work of the theatre.
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. It supports a range of activities across the arts, museums, and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspire us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, it will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk
3rd February 2025
If you have enjoyed watching a show or taking part in one of our activities, and would like to support our future work, you can make a one-off financial gift. Please click below.