Frankenstein — Unchained

DARK MATTERS is a modern-gothic season at Circle & Star — five works across one October fortnight, 14–31 October 2026, drawn from the literature and music that live in the shadow of the imagination. Narrated, sung and spoken, each night turns the fifty-five-seat room to the dark — not for shock, but for clarity. This is one of the five.

Frankenstein — Unchained is a unique multimedia performance of the classic 1818 story by Mary Shelley, narrated by classic horror icon Madeline Smith.

An interactive trip through the world of Mary Shelley's classic story, featuring live narration by Madeline Smith — star of such films as Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974, with Peter Cushing), Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970, with Christopher Lee) and the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973) — and a new original soundtrack, performed live by Jason Frederick to picture, to underline and support the story.

Projection, lighting and smoke move with the picture. Inside a fifty-five-seat room there is no distance between you and the story.

The experience. An atmospheric, interactive journey through Mary Shelley's classic 1818 gothic novel.
The narration. Live spoken-word narration by Madeline Smith.
The music. An original, real-time live musical score and soundtrack performed by Jason Frederick.

★ A unique multimedia performance of the 1818 story
★ Live narration by classic horror icon Madeline Smith
★ An original soundtrack performed live to picture by Jason Frederick
★ Projection, lighting and smoke, in a room of fifty-five
★ Two nights only, 22–23 October — in the heart of gothic Hampstead

Artwork by Scott Neilson. A signed and numbered limited-edition poster is available — profit from every print goes to nurses, and to local organisations supporting cancer patients and their families.

🗓 Thursday 22 – Friday 23 October 2026 · Doors 7:30pm · Show 8:00pm
📍 28 Heath Street, Hampstead, London NW3 6TE
🎟 55 seats only — two nights
🔗 frankenstein.circleandstar.live

Contains haze and smoke effects, projected imagery and sustained low light. There is no strobe.

STEP IN. COME UP. BE PART OF THE STORY.