The Monsters Within | maryfrancesdoherty

The Monsters Within

By Curious Doings

A thrilling new show that examines the very nature of good and evil.

Based on the themes within the gothic novels The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this electric fusion of literature and physical theatre breathes new life into traditional grotesque creatures and villains and entangles them with modern real-world demons and virtual mobs to unmask who the real monsters are.

'The Monsters Within' explores the idea of monsters within contemporary society, with particular reference to mental health & wellbeing and online trolls.

Age Guidance: 12+

Running Time: Approx. 1 hour 10 minutes

Available for touring!

Full length video of the performance available on request

email or call (+44) 7505730883

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‘A show like no other. This kind of devised theatre is something you're more likely to see in London or off-Broadway rather than Belfast. In that sense, it couldn't be more pertinent - a breath of fresh air for the Belfast theatre scene. The Monsters Within grabs your attention immediately, guiding you on a path through the pathological minds of young adults and disclosing cultural and social phenomena that pull the human condition in two. You come away with a genuine feeling of concern for today's youth as we see the manifestation of anxieties, depression, guilt and self-loathing - monsters created by bad parenting, poor mentoring, peer pressure, bullying, addiction and social media. The teleology of the work and its moment of catharsis provides a message no responsible and caring individual should ignore. A brilliant piece. Congratulations Curious Doings!’

Jonny Carson-Lewis

''Thought-provoking, relevant and utterly entertaining...With a contemporary twist, the cast managed to take themes of monsters, unfamiliar beings and uncomfortable settings and use them to confront important and relevant issues that face the digital generation...the audience were constantly shocked and shaken, as each scene held it’s own individual intensity and energy...Most importantly, The Monsters Within addressed issues of bullying, trolling, peer pressure, humiliation, self harm and a wealth of other relevant issues. This addressal was achieved in a non patronising fashion, using well nuanced symbolism, which addressed these issues with a perfect balance of respect and intensity...Within one hour, the cast created a world that the audience recognised, allowing us to confront our issues as a society, and examine the ‘monsters’ within ourselves. I can safely say, that this production is something that will stay with me for a long time, and was a thought- provoking, enchanting piece of innovative theatre.'

Aoibh Johnson - Theatre NI Young Critics Programme

'The monsters within are revealed and they are digital. Curious Doings brings to the stage a fun, mesmerising, and thought provoking piece tackling the issues of identity and torment for young people in the digital age...Blending elements of Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde, we follow a group of young people as they tackle their own creations. Creations in the sense of their social media identity presented to the world. They tell their own unique stories to reveal the insecurities and anxieties that a majority of young people feel today, especially in the online world. Questioning who they really are and who do they what to be in a world where everyone is connected and judged...The direction is strong and the show moves at a brisk pace...The issues of technology, cyberbullying, and internet trolling is a dense and complicated subject matter to tackle and ‘ The Monsters Within ’ makes this dense topic more accessible to the public. Full of interesting moments with a nice balance of light and sound, the show may make you think twice of who you are in the online world.'

David Arbuthnot - Theatre NI Young Critics Programme

'Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror hangs over the stage like a spectre. We are shown the sinister underside to something that has become so normal and trivialised for us as a society. Technology is not just a common tool, it is a constant now and as easy as it is to see the benefits it has brought us, it is easier still to ignore the darker side to this. A phone is so common an extension to a person that it often goes unnoticed in our daily lives. Whereas Black Mirror provides a glimpse into a disconcerting future, The Monsters Within shows us that the present is often just as disturbing...The internet is now the ultimate tool for learning. Most of us use it on a daily basis. Social media and search engines are now all invaluable tools to our society but they are easy to abuse, especially for someone as vulnerable as a teenager. General trivia questions can quickly turn to destructive searches, rabbit holes that distort and damage our image of ourselves and our perception of society

and how we connect to it. It is important that we recognise that the real monsters don’t lie waiting in our closets or under our beds.'

Gavin Turtle - Theatre NI Young Critics Programme

'You definitely should not Hyde from this show! A physical, quirky twist on The well known ‘The strange case of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde’ by Robert Louis Stevenson as well as themes from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein...The use of modern day technology to portray issues with cyber bullying and 21st century teenagers were pulled together to create a relateable and youthful tone...The acting alone would encourage me to see another play by Curious Doings! – A theatre company to look out for!'

Beth Rodgers - Theatre NI Young Critics Programme

'Stunning work of devised theatre'

'So many parts made me laugh, so many parts were emotional

and oh, I LOVED the dancing!'

'I will never see apples the same way, or trust that my dog loves me,

or sit too close to anyone in the cinema...'

'An original raw performance'

'Very thought provoking'

'Extremely intense and unsettling'

'Highlights the unseen mental health struggles'

'Such talented actors who give their blood, sweat, and tears

emotionally and physically for such an honest piece'

'Very appropriate for todays society'

'A fantastic piece of work'

'Enjoyed by 15 to 72 year olds!'

Audience members at The Crescent Arts Centre May 2017

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

DIRECTOR

Mary-Frances Doherty

CAST

Mary-Frances Doherty

Aisling Groves-McKeown

Nina Logue

Brendan Quinn

Paula Carson

PRODUCER

Cat Barter

ASSISTANT PRODUCER

Jenna Byrne

Supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Previous Performances:

Accidental Theatre, Belfast

Saturday 27th October at 8pm

De La Salle College, Belfast

Mental Health & Wellbeing Days

Wednesday 21st June 2017 at 10.10am (Year 8 & 9)

Thursday 22nd June 2017 at 9.10am (Year 10 & 11)

The Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Tuesday 9th - Saturday 13th May 2017 at 8pm