ACTOR 1: The Creature

The Creature is Nick Dear’s protagonist. And the play’s story is told from The Creature’s point-of-view. Not unlike the legends of Kasper Hauser or Truffaut’s Wild Child, the Creature enters a world without identity and is tasked with learning to be human and entering into the social order of his time. The audience observes The Creature grow not unlike a child cognitively, socially, and philosophically. An actor acting the role of The Creature benefits from a markedly strong physique and, ideally, dance and movement experience/training.

ACTOR 3: Gretel/Clarice:

• Gretel is a prostitute and the first townsperson to engage The Creature. In her engagement she moves from gratitude to terror. Stage combat experience a plus.

• Clarice is a maid and loyal confidante to Elizabeth (Victor Frankenstein’s fiancée). Clarice is married and offers perspective and comfort. She is empathetic and shares temperamentally in the suffering and tragedies of other people. 

ACTOR 5: De Lacey/Ewen

• De Lacey is blind. He becomes a kind, compassionate teacher to The Creature. He is an intelligent, educated person. DeLacey is dependent on Felix, his son, and Agatha, his daughter-in-law.. Guitar playing a plus.

• Ewan is uncle to Rab (and a mature Orkney islander with the skills and experiences of that life). Speaks with a Scottish brogue.​​​​​​

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ACTOR 7: Agatha/Elizabeth

• Agatha is a young country woman, and Felix’s wife. She is optimistic, cheerful and upbeat—fiercely supportive of family and friends. At a significant moment in her story, Agatha is heavily pregnant. Often, she sings to herself for her own amusement. She too will become terrified by The Creature.

• Elizabeth is Victor’s fiancée. She is intelligent, loving and honest. In another context, Elizabeth would make an ideal wife for Victor, but in this context she is frustrated. This role includes stage combat, including a scene with sexual assault to be directed by the intimacy director.

ACTOR 9: William (or Wendla)

William is a child, quite precocious, and Victor’s sibling. The role evinces innocence, playfulness, but ultimately terror. Stage combat experience a plus (potentially choregraphing the child’s death).

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ACTOR 2: Victor Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein is a pre-Darwinian, early 19th century scientist—a medical doctor and naturalist. He begets his creatures from the body parts of the deceased, sutures these parts together, and animates his creations with electrical charges. Victor demonstrates egotism and insanity. Hubris entices him from significant human connection and, particularly, from Elizabeth, his fiancée. As the Creature’s creator, he is creation’s antagonist.

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ACTOR 4: Gustave/Constable/Servant

1. Gustav is a beggar living roughly—hungry and fearful. Stage combat experience a plus.

2. The Constable is a 19th century police man, with the prejudices and interests of his time.

3. Frankenstein’s servants should act with developed personalities. Servants participate in the search for William and in the wedding preparations. Roles could include some light singing. Stage combat experience a plus.

ACTOR 6: Felix/Rab/Servant

• Felix is a hardworking, progressively-minded young farmer out to build a life in the country with Agatha, his like-minded wife. He is by turns curious, disgusted and then terrified by The Creature.

• Rab is an Orkney islander, the adult nephew to Ewan, and, perhaps a disturbed individual. Speaks with a Scottish Brogue.

• Frankenstein’s servants should act with developed personalities. Servants participate in the search for William and in the wedding preparations. Roles could include some light singing. Stage combat experience a plus.

ACTOR 8: Female Creature

Specifically constructed by Victor, The Female Creature is intended as a beautiful mate for The Creature. She appears in a dream sequence first, and then later in Victor’s workshop scene in the Orkneys. The Female Creature moves tenderly and invitingly in the dream sequence (but doesn’t speak). As with The Creature, the actor’s movement will be choreographed. Dance experience a plus.

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ACTOR 10: Klaus/Monsieur (or Madame) Frankenstein

• Klaus is impoverished, a homeless beggar. He is by turns sentimental and then terrified. Stage combat experience is a plus.

• Monsieur (or Madame) Frankenstein is Victor’s mature, distraught, disappointed parent. Highly placed in society, he/she mourns the loss of each offspring to insanity and murder.