Act Reviews 2024 / 2025 Season

smooth transitions between scenes, with actors moving the props and set-pieces during the performance, which kept the pace brisk and uninterrupted. This simple yet effective approach focused the audience’s attention on the characters and the play’s increasingly dark narrative. The lighting and sound design by Ryan Clegg and Alex Pickup, along with music and sound production by Wayne Avanson and Andrew Raphael, played a crucial role in creating the eerie, haunting atmosphere that permeated the entire production. The use of haze to simulate the smog-filled streets of London added an unsettling sense of realism. The continuous heartbeat sound during the interval and before the performance heightened tension, giving the audience a constant feeling of dread. Red lighting was masterfully employed to symbolise violence, passion, and the growing presence of Hyde. One particularly memorable moment was the recreation of a train using sound, smoke-dappled lighting, and the strategic positioning of actors. The effect was immersive and it felt as though the audience was experiencing the train’s movement firsthand, creating an emotional scene. Another simple but effective moment came when Jekyll handled a box containing a rat, which he used as one of his lab experiments. The sound effect was so believable that I really thought there was a rat inside! Wayne Avanson’s videography also contributed significantly, with projected slow-motion silhouettes of the murders, a haunting and visceral effect that avoided overt violence. This clever and unique technique added depth to the piece and was both effective and chilling. Although there were minor issues with the lighting not achieving a full blackout—likely due to the auditorium safety lights— the impact at the end of scenes was not diminished, as the actors maintained their character and intensity throughout. Anita Shaw’s direction was one of the highlights of the production. She made full use of the stage, including the aisles and side doors, immersing the audience in the action. Her creative vision was especially evident in the symbolic use of masks throughout the play, representing society’s hidden, animalistic nature— particularly in relation to Jekyll’s internal struggle. Shaw’s choice to have multiple

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