19:00-20:00, Sunday 20th September 2026
The Cockpit
Notated music and performance: CN Lester
Electronic music and soundscapes: ILĀ
Libretto, direction, spoken word performance: Jamie Hale
This 60 minute hybrid work strips Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to its core question: is it right to create new life in a fractured and suffering world?
Combining sung voice, spoken voice, and electronica, Frankenstein’s Offie-Award-winning proof of concept opened to universal critical and audience praise at Barbican in November 2025. Now, this full new interpretation of the classic text marries notated music and operatic vocals from CN Lester (‘Captivating, hypnotic’ – Opera) with libretto, direction and spoken word performance from Jamie Hale (Evening Standard Director / Theatremaker of the Year 2021 – ‘fantastic’ – Hannah Gadsby) and electronic musical soundscapes from ILĀ (‘a masterclass in sound design’ – Attitude). Shifting and distorting, Frankenstein is neither opera, nor sound installation, nor straight theatrical performance, but a hybrid expression of embodiment that puts trans and disabled voices at the heart of what it is to be monstered, and what it is to be free.
Age range: All ages, but mostly adults.
In a festival of new work, please note that shows can often overrun.
Produced by CN Lester/ ILĀ / Jamie Hale
Venue: The Cockpit, Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH.
This production has been made possible by funding from The Hinrichsen Foundation, The Vaughan Williams Foundation, and Arts Council England.
Notated music and performance: CN Lester Electronic music and soundscapes: ILĀ Libretto, direction, spoken word performance: Jamie Hale
Notated music and performance: CN Lester
Electronic music and soundscapes: ILĀ
Libretto, direction, spoken word performance: Jamie Hale