Frankenstein: The Metal Opera

Orpheus Studio Productions presents a staged adaptation of Richard Campbell’s progressive rock concept album Frankenstein, a thrilling musical portrayal of the original sci-fi horror.

Filmed Hallowe'en 2014.

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Trailer

About

Frankenstein: The Metal Opera began life as a rock/metal concept album, recorded by Richard Campbell of Orpheus Studio, London, and released in December 2012. Co-lyricist Carol Pestridge had always been a huge fan of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, and it was clear that the story would be a perfect match for Richard’s musical style.

A few months after the album was released Washington DC’s Landless Theatre Company contacted Richard to ask permission to be the first to put the album on stage. Richard and Carol were delighted with the idea, and flew over to watch the production in June 2013. Spurred on by the excitement of seeing their work on stage, they immediately set about adapting the album into a theatre script.

That Hallowe’en (2013) they teamed up with Alan Mandel, who directed a workshop version of the show at the Rose & Crown pub in South Ealing, London. The two performances provided an opportunity to test a selection of staging ideas in front of an audience of 200+, and were a real success.

This gave them team the knowledge and experience to put together a complete theatrical version, so the following spring they teamed up with the Lansbury Players, who suggested staging the show at The Space in East London. A week of shows were soon scheduled for that Hallowe’en (2014).

Richard, Carol and Alan (now Orpheus Studio Productions) launched a Kickstarter Campaign in the summer to raise extra funds to help realise their vision of Frankenstein: The Metal Opera on stage. The campaign was a huge success, with 111 backers raising a total of £3,053.

Thanks to the generosity of Kickstarter backers, private investors, and many friends who donated a huge amount of time and expertise, Orpheus Studio’s first ever theatre production was both critically acclaimed and a sell out.

Cast & Crew

ALAN MANDEL

Director

Alan has enjoyed a varied career as a director and performer. His theatre credits include: After a Storm (Exeter Northcott Theatre) and In The Space Between (Camden People’s Theatre). Film credits include: Valentine (Electric Swing Circus), The Underwater Realm (Realm Pictures), Artisans of Memory (Multi-Sense Media) and On Ice (Wet Rat Films), which won Best Director & Best Film at the 2 Days Later International Film Festival.

CAROL PESTRIDGE

Book & Lyrics

Writer Carol Pestridge has worked in the theatre industry as a Stage Manager for the last 7 years. Productions include Paradise Found (The Menier Chocolate Factory), The Fahrenheit Twins (The Barbican Theatre), Falstaff (Opera Holland Park), Wendy and Peter Pan (Royal Shakespeare Company) and most recently My Perfect Mind (The Young Vic Theatre).

RICHARD CAMPBELL

Music & Lyrics

Composer Richard Campbell is a multi-instrumentalist with a passion for progressive rock and metal. He runs his own recording studio in Hackney (Orpheus Studio), and it is there that he wrote, recorded and produced the original album version of Frankenstein.

ROY RYAN

Victor Frankenstein

Roy Ryan has been an avid performer since he was six years old, comprising over nineteen years of appearing in nearly forty productions, including Chess The Musical, Lyle Kessler's Orphans and Sea Patrol as well as producing two one-man cabaret/concerts. Roy appeared in the workshop production of this show last year, playing the Creature.

DUNCAN DRURY

The Creature

Duncan is a graduate of The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. His most recent engagement was with the Emporium Theatre Repertory Company, Brighton in which he played Clov in Endgame, Mr Sloane in Entertaining Mr Sloane and Cinderella’s Prince/The Wolf in Into The Woods. Previous credits include Tom Collins in Rent and Bobby in Company.

JAMES CRAZE

Robert Walton

James is an Actor and Theatre Maker who graduated from Rose Bruford College in 2013. This year he has toured his own one man play, Ernie, appeared in the BBC soap Doctors and played the lead role in The Words I Should Have Said To Phoebe Lewis (Phoenix Artist Club). James is returning to the role of Walton after last year’s workshop production.

ANYA HAMILTON

Elizabeth Lavenza

Since training at London College of Music, Anya recently played Alice in Gary Starr Productions’ Alice In Wonderland at the Beck Theatre. Other roles include: Kaa in The Jungle Book and Tess in Tess of the D’Ubervilles at The Park Theatre. Anya was also involved in last year’s workshop production, and is thrilled to be reprising the role of Elizabeth.

MAX PANKS

Jacob

Max trained at London College of Music. His theatre credits include: Fenton in The Merry Wives of Windsor (London Tour), Tootles in Lost Boy the Musical (Charing Cross Theatre), Frankenstein: The Metal Opera workshop production (The Rose and Crown), Angel in Tess of the D’Urbervilles the Musical (The Park Theatre), and Ray/Lead Guitarist in Summer of Love (Nomas Events).

CHARLOTTE DE PAEZTRON

Florence / Justine

Training: Mountview. Credits: Private Lives (P&O Adonia), Shawshank Redemption (Secret Cinema), From Stage & Screen & Back Again (Leicester Sq. Theatre), Pirates of Penzance (Tabard Theatre), Cinderella (PMA Productions), An Evening of Don Black (The Pheasantry), La Boheme (Cock Tavern Theatre). In the West End Gospel Choir & lead singer for Thomson Gold Hotels and P&O Cruises.

BAND

Drums - Richard Campbell
Guitar - Rhys Llewellyn
Bass - Michael Pettit

FULL CREW

Director - Alan Mandel
Musical Director - Richard Campbell
Design - Orpheus Studio Productions
Lighting Designer - Sarah Sage
Production Electrician - Louise Sage
Lighting Assistant - Keith Ramsey
Costume Designer - Sarah Dutton
Special Effects Make-up Designer - Ali Reith
Special Effects Make-up Artist - Fabiola Bastianelli
Set - Paul Campbell
Props - Barbara Campbell
Sound Operator - Alexander Broad
Soundscape Designer - Yvonne Gilbert
Fight Director - Tom Jordan
Movement Director - Sandra Maturana
Production Management - IOGIG Ltd, Olivia Dermot Walsh & Ian Taylor
Stage Manager - Carol Pestridge
Assistant Stage Manager - Ellie Richards

SPECIAL THANKS

Lynn & Keith Ramsey, Azerbaijan House, Sophie Hopkins, Regents Park Open Air Theatre, John Lynch, Ian Martin, Ashley Anzie, Carl Beu, GeorgeFairbairn, Westbury Carpets, The Landless Theatre Company and all of our Kickstarter backers