Students and families across Dartford enjoyed a chilling night out last Thursday, watching The Orchard theatre’s production of Jekyll and Hyde. The adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic gothic thriller starred Phil Daniels - famous for his roles in Eastenders and the 1979 film Quadrophenia - as both Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
The story follows Doctor Jekyll, a medical genius seeking to go beyond what others before him have achieved by exploring the complexity of the human mind, inspired by his late father’s notebooks. It is worth noting, however, that the adaptation was significantly different from the original book, as pointed out by many of the students.
The book is currently widely studied as a GCSE English Literature text in schools across the country, making the production a popular one amongst students, with tickets at a discounted price. However, many were quick to point out the fact that the adaptation differed hugely from the novel, introducing complete new characters and storylines.
In a conversation with Olivia Ajayi, a GCSE student from Dartford Grammar School for Girls, she suggested the show to have contrasted so much with the novel that she doubted it would have ‘been of any real benefit’ to her knowledge for the exam.
Having spoken to a teacher from the same school, however, her opinion was not of the same nature. The English teacher goes on to explain ‘despite there being significant differences in the characters and development of the story, the opportunity to see a live production of the novel will always be of benefit in aiding their visual memory.
All in all, the show was a huge success amongst the audience, who rewarded the actors with a standing ovation. Be sure to check for more shows and productions on at The Orchard here on https://orchardtheatre.co.uk/Online/whatson-allevents
