One of the few good things about our current pandemic situation is that many performances that were once kept in the vaults are being released online, as a way to raise funds for COVID-19 relief efforts. One of these should be of particular interest to both fans of the horror genre, as well as fans of Benedict Cumberbatch and director Danny Boyle. Via Empire, we’ve learned that Boyle’s stage adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein for the National Theatre in the U.K. will be released in its entirety online, starting on April 30th, and will be available all the way through to Friday, May 8th.
National Theatre
You can watch the Frankenstein livestream down below:
Boyle’s take on this classic tale was unique, as its stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Trainspotting’s Jonny Lee Miller each playing the part of Doctor Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. Every night, the actors would switch roles, with one playing Victor, and the other portraying his undead creation. And it appears that both versions of the play are going to be available. The first one will showcase Cumberbatch as the Monster, and Miller as Dr. Frankenstein, and then the opposite version showing up on Friday 1 May.
This stage production ran from February to May of 2011. It was a huge success, winning awards for both of its lead actors. The production screened to movie theaters across the globe as part of a the National Theatre Live program that year. It later made return appearances in 2012 and 2013. Its most recent return came in 2018, as a way of celebrating the 200th anniversary of the original novel. But this YouTube livestream will allow even more people to experience the play than ever before. On their YouTube page, viewers are given the option to donate, helping the legendary British theatrical institution during their current closure.
Featured Image: National Theatre
