Local dance company makes theatre debut with modern classic

FROME’s critically acclaimed Mark Bruce Company, makes their Memorial Theatre debut on Friday 15th March and Saturday 16th March, with the premiere of their exciting new production of Frankenstein.

In telling Mary Shelley’s classic story, the company of six dancers will combine thrilling contemporary dance with imaginative story-telling.

Company founder, choreographer, and Frome resident Mark Bruce, remembers seeing Frankenstein on TV. He said, “Back in the day there was late night, old horror films on TV. There were no video options, of course, so you literally had to stay up all night to watch them. Everyone else would go to bed and I would be in a dark room all by myself getting more and more scared, watching Christopher Lee or Boris Karloff in the role of the monster!”

Creating work that features his award-winning trademarks of imaginative choreography, distinctive imagery and a broad knowledge of music, Mark Bruce’s previous productions include Dracula, The Odyssey, Macbeth, and Phantoms, famous for their cinematic quality and outstanding cast of dancers. Audiences will see a clash of real and imagined worlds in Frankenstein.

“In my interpretation, Victor Frankenstein’s obsessive quest to capture the fire of life causes him to live partly in the real world and partly in another world where he has visitations from entities such as Prometheus,” explains Mark. “The design of the production is set on a plain where it’s not clear what is real and what isn’t so the audience is completely drawn in. The Memorial Theatre in Frome is an absolute gem and we can’t wait to perform there for the very first time.

“The theatre has a great atmosphere, which I think will perfectly suit our production. We very much look forward to premiering Frankenstein before our Frome audience.”

Frankenstein is preceded by a shorter work, Liberation Day, a powerful, contemplative 20-minute dance work about life, love, and the passing of time, danced to songs written by Mark Bruce.

Cast: Jonathan Goddard as The Monster, Eleanor Duval as Prometheus, Cordelia Braithwaite as Bride of the Monster, Carina Howard as Narcissus, Dominic Rocca as Doctor Frankenstein and Anna Daly as Elizabeth. The eclectic music score is by Chopin, Penderecki and Arvo Pärt.

Running times: Liberation Day 20 minutes; interval; Frankenstein 50 minutes

Writer/Choreographer/Director, Mark Bruce; Costume Design, Dorothee Brodrück; Lighting Design, Guy Hoare; Set Design, Phil Eddolls. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England. Commissioned by DanceEast.