A poignant and hilarious tale of self-acceptance in this classic story with a twist, award-winning creative duo of Gavin Webber and Grayson Millwood from QLD- based company The Farm, in collaboration with Co3 Australia, Frank Enstein, returns to the Heath Ledger Theatre at the State Theatre Centre of WA this April, following a sell-out 2017 season.
Frank’s a lonely guy who wants to make his imaginary friends real. Harnessing electricity from a storm he creates his world from nothing but his imagination and the garbage in his lab. Battling a physical impairment, Frank creates monsters to fulfil his desire to be normal and to be accepted by others. Can he control what he creates? And who is the real monster anyway?
This much-anticipated return season of Frank Enstein coincides with the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s novel and features two extraordinary young performers in the lead roles, formerly played by adults, who join Co3 Australia’s professional dancers on-stage.
Sixteen-year-old William Rees takes on the title role of Frank, bringing his unique experience of performing with a disability to the character. William received a brachial plexus injury at birth restricting the use of his left arm. He developed his interest in acting by performing with his school and the Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art at the Canberra Theatre Centre, winning the Acting Up theatre competition for ‘Theatre Underground’ in early 2017. He also starred in a film Black Sheep, receiving the award for Best Actor in a University of Canberra short film competition.
Fifteen-year-old local dancer, and Act-Belong-Commit Co:Youth Ensemble member, Luci Young, makes her professional debut in the role of Liz. She joined Co3’s Act-Belong-Commit Co:Youth Ensemble in 2015, performing in Our City, Our Stories at the Dolphin Theatre (2016) and Project NEXT at the Centre for Performing Arts at All Saints’ College (2017). Luci studies ballet on a scholarship at the Graduate College of Dance and is in year 10 at Methodist Ladies’ College.
“It has been great to re-work Frank Enstein with Will and Luci, who as teenagers bring a new perspective to the story and the show,” said Co-Director of The Farm Gavin Webber.
Co3 Australia dancers Andrew Searle, Talitha Maslin and Zachary Lopez reprise their roles as the monsters Frank brings to life. The Farm’s wicked sense of humour and the extreme physicality of Co3 Australia’s dancers create a sensational mix of extraordinary dance-theatre and mind-blowing magic, set to an electrifying contemporary soundtrack with spectacular lighting and design to delight the child in us all.
“Frank Enstein is a story that we can all relate to – the struggle to fit in, to find a place, to find worth and what better way to tell it than through the voices of our young people,” said Co3 Australia’s Artistic Director, Raewyn Hill. “It’s a work that speaks to all of us; we all sometimes need that reminder to be a little less judgmental, and a little more accepting of ourselves and those around us.”
Frank Enstein
Heath Ledger Theatre – State Theatre Centre of WA, 174 – 176 William Street, Perth
Season: 11 – 15 April 2018
Bookings: www.ptt.wa.gov.au
For more information, visit: www.co3.org.au for details.
Image: Andrew Searle features in Frank Enstein – photo by Stefan Gosatti