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Leigh On Sea News: Southend Drama Society – FANS of Gothic chills are in for a treat when the Dixon Studio reopens in November with Southend Drama Society’s adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Southend Drama Society - FANS of Gothic chills are in for a treat when the Dixon Studio reopens in November with Southend Drama Society’s adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
FANS of Gothic chills are in for a treat when the Dixon Studio reopens in November with Southend Drama Society’s adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
The classic horror story about the battle between good and evil will be the first show back at the Dixon since it closed suddenly in September after the discovery of RAAC in its roof.
Adapted by society chairman Bill Peel, the production promises a return to the original Jekyll and Hyde story, based on the novella by 19th century author Robert Louis Stevenson.
The play opens with lifelong friends Dr Hastie Lanyon and Jekyll arguing about humanity’s dual nature – and how best to control the inner conflict between our civilised and primitive sides.
When Jekyll suggests the only solution is to use medicine to channel and control man’s dark desires, Lanyon scolds him for daring to play God.
But the warning is too late – Jekyll’s medical investigations have already unleashed the abominable Mr Hyde who threatens to not only destroy the doctor’s good name, but take over his whole life as well.
Bill Peel said: There were several challenges when adapting this story for the stage because so much of it is originally written in letter form, creating an unusual structure.
“Ideas in the letters had to become conversations on the stage in order to capture the motivation behind Jekyll’s ambitions.
“The character of Hyde is also rather hidden in the original text, with scant references to his actions. Fleshing this out was fun.”
Director Peter Nawrat, the society’s life president, relished the chance to bring this iconic example of Gothic literature to the Dixon Studio. He said: “I have been waiting for a while to put on this production, relying on the strong acting skills of my cast, dramatic lighting and the hard hitting music to support the action.”
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is at the Palace Theatre’s Dixon Studio, London Road, Westcliff, from Wednesday November 22 to Saturday November 25.
Tickets for the 7.30pm evening performances and 2.30pm Saturday matinee are £16 or £14 for concessions.
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