ROBERT Louis Stevenson spent some years living in Westbourne, then an affluent suburb of Bournemouth, and it was here that he wrote the novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. So it is appropriate for the town’s Palace Court Theatre to be the venue for a striking reimagining of this famous thriller, from 19th to 21st March.

The Arts University Bournemouth production is a bold and female-led adaptation, directed by James Parker, associate director of Dead Rabbits Theatre Company, and a graduate of the renowned physical theatre specialist school, Ecole Philippe Gaulier. In Etampes, outside Paris.

Neil Bartlett’s 2022 breathes new life into the familiar story by placing women at its heart, exploring themes of duality and justice through the eyes of the newly introduced Dr Stevenson, a female physician fighting for her place in a patriarchal society.

With an emphasis on physical theatre, “Bouffon-esque” comedy, and high-energy ensemble work, James Parker explains, apart from Mr Hyde, “it’s women playing men and they all take on the challenge of highlighting some of those traditional toxic male characteristics from the past in a truly joyful manner.

“Aside from the main roles, there’s also a lot of chorus work that happens in the play. The chorus isn’t just a group of people – they are the environment. They provide the atmospheric texture of Victorian London all without drawing attention to themselves, yet their presence is what directs the audience’s gaze and tells them how to feel about a scene.

“So, we have a female chorus playing Victorian gentlemen, and Jekyll is one of them. That’s where we find the conflict, with Dr Stevenson probing and pushing to find justice while the gentlemen are trying to foil her investigation.”

Stevenson moved to Westbourne for health reasons in the mid-1880s, and it was here, at the villa he called Skerryvore, that he wrote his famous story. The idea reportedly came from a vivid nightmare – Stevenson drafted the tale within a matter of days and then revised it after feedback from his wife, who encouraged him to deepen its moral and psychological themes.

For AUB final-year BA (Hons) Acting students Claudia Costa and Eve Harris, the show represents a sophisticated departure from traditional drama. Claudia, who plays Jekyll, emphasises the ensemble nature of the piece: “When you hear the title, you think it’s just going to be a story of Jekyll and Hyde. But going through this process, it’s really opened my eyes that every single character in this is so important. If there was no chorus, there wouldn’t be a show.”

For Eve, who plays Dr Stevenson, the role is a journey of empowerment. “It was so rare to see women in these sorts of professions. So, she plays up to be quite masculine, to make her feel like she fits. But then, throughout the play, she gains her confidence and knows that she belongs.”

“If you think you know the story of Jekyll and Hyde, think again,” says Claudia. “This isn’t just a play — it’s a physical, high-adrenaline rollercoaster!”

For tickets and more information, visit https://aub.ac.uk/latest/aub-productions-presents-jekyll-and-hyde

Pictured are Claudia Costa, Eve Harris and James Parker