New production of Kafka's classic Metamorphosis to be performed in Taunton, Frome, Street across dates at various venues throughout March and April 2019.
Posted on: 13 Feb 2019A brand-new production of Franz Kafka's classic tale of mental and physical transformation is set to be performed in Frome, Taunton and Street across dates at various venues throughout March and April 2019.
Presented by Old Rep Theatre in association with Beyond The Horizon, this new interpretation of Kafka's dark, unsettling parable has been brought bang up to date with a modern day setting, stunning visuals and ultra-realistic visual effects by film and TV makeup artist Sarah Luscombe.
It's an odd, disturbing tale indeed (the original novella was published in 1915) about a travelling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning to find he's been inexplicably transformed into a giant insect. The bizarre affliction soon takes over Gregor's increasingly unstable mind and those he loves, turning their love for him into repulsion and his love for them into hellish torment.
With its hyper-realistic and state-of-the-art makeup and prosthetics, this version is sure to bring the unsettling, weird tone and creepy, chilling darkness more terrifyingly to life than any production has done before.
Kafka's masterpiece is one that has been interpreted in myriad ways since it was first published, but this production will examine how perception shapes our interactions and families cope when they have to care for someone who is debilitated in some way.
Adam Lloyd-James - who has co-directed this new interpretation alongside Matilda Dickinson - said: “Kafka’s Metamorphosis has always been a personal favourite of mine, and it’s particularly relevant these days with mental health issues on the rise. Sarah’s makeup just adds a whole new dimension to it all. The makeup is terrifying. The story is superb.”
The UK tour kicks off at The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham on 26th February but will take residence at Merlin Theatre in Frome on Saturday 9th March, then on to Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre in Taunton on Thursday 21st March before hitting Strode Theatre in Street on Friday 26th April.
With all the hallmarks of being a dynamic take on a classic story and enhanced with first-rate contemporary production values and realistically grisly effects, Kafka's unforgettable man-into-insect tale has been given a 21st-century reboot in a production you won't want to miss.
The aforementioned theatre's venue, performance times and ticket price details are as follows:
9 March
Merlin Theatre, Frome, Bath Rd, Frome, BA11 2HG
7.45pm | £16
www.merlinetheatre.co.uk | 01373 465949
21 March
Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre
School Rd, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton TA2 8PD
7.30pm | £13 (£9 concs)
www.tacchi-morris.com | 01923 41 41 41
26 April
Strode Theatre, Somerset
Strode College, Church Rd, Street BA16 0AB
7.30pm | £15 (£13.50 concs)
www.strodetheatre.org.uk | 01458 442846
The show's running time is 2 hours, including an interval. Due to the disturbing nature of its content, Metamorphosis is only suitable for ages 12+. You can find out more about Old Rep Theatre here.
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Jamie is a writer, blogger, journalist, critic, film fan, soundtrack nerd and all-round Bristolian good egg. He loves the music of Philip Glass, the art of Salvador Dali, the writings of Charles Bukowksi and Hunter S Thompson, the irreverence of Harry Hill, and the timeless, straw-chomping exuberance of The Wurzels. You can sometimes find him railing against a surging tide of passing cyclists, or gorging himself senseless on the Oriental delights of a Cosmos all-you-can-eat buffet.
