Image result for frankenstein theatre clwyd"  A stark, glaring set and the howls of a raging storm strike up an uneasy atmosphere on entering the Anthony Hopkins Theatre. The drifting silhouettes around a maze-like set piece contribute to Frankenstein’s ethereal feel from the beginning, with characters appearing through different entrances across various levels.

This adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic horror novel puts the famed author amongst the action. Played with a sort of TOWIE-esque teenage attitude by Eilidh Loan, Shelley’s inclusion isn’t entirely convincing. True, she is able shed light character’s true intentions and feelings throughout the play, as well as explain first-hand how her creations came to being (for example, it’s apparent that the Monster himself is born from Shelley’s own nightmares). However, at times her interjections and explanations seem to stall the drama. Loan is engaging to watch, and her performance of Shelley is full of subtle comic moments and side glances.

Ben Castle-Gibb plays the eponymous tormented scientist. His unravelling is genuinely disturbing to watch. Castle-Gibb plays Frankenstein’s tragic arc, from talented rising star to a tortured victim of his own success, with heart, physically and emotionally committing to the piece.

Frankenstein is a classic tragedy, and in this production it is seen through a contemporary lens. The idea of the Monster’s creation, by both the fictional Victor Frankenstein and the author Mary Shelley, is scrutinised and torn apart before the audience. The final sequence, as Shelley unleashes her greatest achievement, just as Frankenstein did, upon the world is chilling.

An intriguing exploration of power, success and responsibility.