View Frankenstein Digital Program

The Hotchkiss Dramatic Association (HDA) continues its 2025–26 season with a bold new staging of Frankenstein, based on Mary Shelley’s seminal novel. Written by Nick Dear and originally directed by Danny Boyle, this Olivier Award–winning adaptation premiered at the National Theatre in 2011, where Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller famously shared the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature.

 Hotchkiss will present Frankenstein Feb. 13-15 in Walker Auditorium, with performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. 

This acclaimed adaptation reframes Shelley’s classic tale by placing the Creature at the center of the story. Through visceral staging, striking imagery, and moments of chilling horror, audiences witness the Creature’s awakening and uncover the consequences of Victor Frankenstein’s relentless pursuit of creation. Themes of love, abandonment, and moral responsibility push viewers to grapple with the timeless question: Who is the man, and who is the monster?

The production is directed by Derek Brashears, Hotchkiss’s Director of Theatre, Resident Designer, and Technical Director, who returns to directing with his signature approach to highly physical, visually driven storytelling. Before transitioning to education, Brashears built a career in New York as a freelance technician, designer, and production manager working with leading nouveau cirque and physical-theatre artists. His work with Russian performance artist Slava Polunin on the Off-Broadway run of the internationally acclaimed Slava’s Snowshow remains one of his most notable and artistically influential credits.

Since joining Hotchkiss in 2013, Brashears has collaborated on every HDA production, consistently guiding students toward professional-caliber work. His past directorial credits at the School include Shockheaded Peter and George Orwell’s 1984. He continues to inspire young artists to find truth in detail, beauty in unexpected places, and confidence in themselves and their creative community.

Co-directing the production with Brashears, senior William Becker ’26 has been involved in seven mainstage productions and numerous short plays during his time at Hotchkiss. His experience spans acting, directing, stage management, and theater tech, giving him a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of the program. As a dedicated theater artist, Becker is honored to culminate his Hotchkiss theater career collaborating with Brashears and leading an exceptionally talented cast.

Performance Details

• February 13–15, 2026
• Friday & Saturday at 7:30 p.m. | Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
• Walker Auditorium, The Hotchkiss School
• Admission is free and open to the public.