Preview: Metamorphosis, MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

Preview: Metamorphosis, MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

Following Frantic Assembly’s sell-out visit in 2022 with Othello, the company return to MAST Mayflower Studios from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 September.

Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis is a powerful and vital depiction of humans struggling within a system that crushes them under its heel.

Gregor Samsa finds himself transformed from breadwinner into burden in this absurd and tragic story.

Frantic Assembly is renowned for its use of physicality and movement and Metamorphosis will be an inherently visceral production about the limitations of the body and mind, imagination and aspiration.

All of this, coupled with the fluidity and lyricism of Lemn Sissay’s adaptation, promises an exciting and dynamic show.

This new adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosisis is a collaboration between BAFTA nominated poet, playwright and broadcaster, Lemn Sissay OBE (author of bestselling book My Name Is Why and soon to be published new poetry collection, Let the Light Pour In), and Frantic Assembly’s Artistic Director, Scott Graham (Othello, Lovesong, Beautiful Burnout).

Following their acclaimed performances as Iago, Roderigo and Bianca in Frantic Assembly’s recent sell-out tour of Othello, Joe Layton (Young Wallander and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) will play the Chief Clerk/Lodger, Felipe Pacheco (The Responder and Brassic) will play Gregor, and Hannah Sinclair Robinson (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; Rockets, and Blue Lights) will play Grete.

They will be joined by Troy Glasgow (The Wife of Willesden and A Streetcar Named Desire) as Father, and Louise Mai Newberry (Romeo and Juliet, and All’s Well That Ends Well) who will play the role of Mother.

Metamorphosis will be designed by Jon Bauser, composed by Stefan Janik, with lighting design by Simisola Majekodunmi, video design by Ian William Galloway, sound design by Helen Skiera, and costume design by Becky Gunstone, the associate director is David Gilbert and casting director is Will Burton CDG.

Metamorphosis is a co-production with Theatre Royal Plymouth, Curve Leicester, MAST Mayflower Studios and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

Tickets for Metamorphosis (26 – 30 September 2023) are on sale at mayflowerstudios.org.uk or 02380 711811.

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