Born of Storm and Story
Kentucky Shakespeare’s haunting Frankenstein
As part of the National Conference on Outdoor Theatre (NCOT) in Bardstown and Louisville this October, attendees had the unforgettable opportunity to experience Kentucky Shakespeare’s haunting Halloween production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The performance was nothing short of mesmerizing; a seamless blend of artistry, atmosphere, and emotion that left the audience spellbound.
Written by David Catlin and directed by Matt Wallace, this reimagined Mary Shelley’s classic gothic tale through a fresh theatrical lens. The story begins with Mary Shelley and her companions on a stormy night, challenging one another to write the scariest tale. As Mary begins her narrative, the line between storyteller and story blurs, and the audience is drawn into a vivid exploration of creation, consequence, and the essence of humanity.
The acting was simply gorgeous. Each member of the ensemble; Zachary Burrell, Sasha Cifuentes, Mollie Murk, Nick Wills, and Crystian Wiltshire shifted effortlessly between roles, embodying the story’s intensity and vulnerability. Their performances were grounded yet ethereal, bringing both Victor Frankenstein’s torment and the Creature’s anguish to heartbreaking life.
Two performances, Sasha Cifuentes and Zachary Burrell, in particular, made this production both haunting and profoundly human. Cifuentes was radiant as Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, grounding the story with quiet strength and fierce intelligence. She carried the heart of the piece; a young woman navigating grief, genius, and the power of creation. Every moment felt intentional; her movement and voice guided the audience through Shelley’s storm of imagination. Through her, Mary became more than a storyteller; she became the pulse of the narrative, a creator wrestling with her own monsters. Burrell delivered a commanding dual performance as both Lord Byron and the Creature, the modern Prometheus. As Byron, he embodied sharp wit and danger, the fearless provocateur urging Mary to breathe life into her nightmare. When the story shifted into Shelley’s imagined world, his transformation into the Creature was raw and magnetic filled with physicality, longing, and rage. Burrell’s portrayal captured both the brilliance and the burden of creation, the pride of the maker and the pain of the made, perfectly echoing the mythic heartbeat at the center of Shelley’s tale.
What elevated this production to another level was its immersive design. The sound and lighting, crafted by Laura Ellis and Jesse AlFord, transformed the intimate space into a living, breathing landscape of storm and shadow. Every flicker of light and low rumble of thunder pulled the audience deeper into the world Mary imagined more than two centuries ago. The technical artistry underscored the play’s themes of isolation and creation, creating an atmosphere that was both eerie and deeply human.
For NCOT attendees, this performance served as both entertainment and inspiration. Kentucky Shakespeare, America’s oldest free professional Shakespeare festival, continues to push boundaries while honoring theatrical tradition. This production reminded everyone in attendance that outdoor and site-specific theatre can be as visually stunning and emotionally potent as any grand indoor stage.
As one conference participant remarked afterward, “It wasn’t just a show, it was a heartbeat. You could feel the art breathing in the room.”
The Frankenstein performance beautifully capped off a week of learning, connection, and celebration within the outdoor theatre community. It echoed the central NCOT theme of innovation through collaboration and creative adaptation.
Through productions like this, Kentucky Shakespeare continues to embody the spirit of NCOT and SETC; bringing communities together through the power of live performance and reimagining what theatre can look like in every season, even under the ghostly glow of Halloween.
Production photography of Frankenstein by Bill Brymer.