Frankenstein is one of the most iconic works in English literature, yet few know it was born from a ghost story challenge in the 1810s by Mary Shelley at age of 18. Trapped indoors by stormy weather, she and three literary companions—Percy Shelley, John Polidori, and Lord Byron—set out to scare one another. What emerged was a masterpiece that haunts genereations.

 

Jess Sayer’s Mary: The Birth of Frankenstein retells that night with thrilling surrealism and poetic imagination. Her script is rich, bold, and intelligent, merging Mary Shelley’s experience as a young female writer with the monster she created. Like the uncontrolled scientific ambition in her novel, Mary—an educated, sapient woman—faced the oppressive forces of her time.

 

The production’s whimsical lighting, unexpected sound, melancholic music, and gothic staging evoke a haunting atmosphere that deepens the story’s emotional and thematic weight. It’s a fitting tribute to the classic and to the fiercely intelligent and visionary young woman behind it.

 

Aucklanders should flock to see this. The world needs to witness the brilliance of this work and support the flourishing of talents like Jess Sayer. Let it stir your curiosity, awaken your creativity, and empower your spirit—or simply, enjoy a thrilling night of horror and awe.

 

A haunting, poetic tribute to the birth of Frankenstein and the brilliance of Mary Shelley. A must see in the theatre in 2025!