REVIEW - YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN THE MUSICAL | HOPE MILL THEATRE, MANCHESTER | 15/10/2025

Young Frankenstein The Musical Brings Electrifying Laughter to Hope Mill Theatre

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre has pulled out all the stops with the regional premiere of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein The Musical. Known for its bold programming and boundary-pushing productions, the theatre’s latest offering is a glorious homage to classic horror, vaudeville comedy, and golden-age musical theatre.

Directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, this electrifyingly chaotic revival proves that Hope Mill can deliver blockbuster-scale spectacle within the intimacy of its beloved Ancoats venue. Bursting with laughter, heart, and just the right amount of madness, it’s the perfect way to mark a decade of outstanding storytelling from one of Manchester’s most exciting creative spaces.

The show follows Dr Frederick Frankenstein, a brilliant New York scientist who unexpectedly inherits his infamous grandfather’s Transylvanian estate. Determined to escape his family’s grisly reputation, Frederick travels to the castle to settle affairs only to be drawn back into the world of bizarre experiments, brain swapping, and lightning-fuelled chaos.

What unfolds is a deliciously silly blend of mad science, musical mayhem and heartwarming redemption, all wrapped in Mel Brooks’ signature brand of parody. The musical delights with a tap-dancing monster, an exuberant lab assistant, and a healthy dose of cheeky, playful humour that keeps the audience laughing from start to finish.

The set design by Sophia Pardon is a masterclass in doing more with less. Gothic and moody yet wonderfully playful, the minimalist staging allows every performance to shine. A video backdrop designed by Matt Powell adds an inspired cinematic flair from lightning storms to spooky castle corridors keeping the visual energy as dynamic as the comedy.

Aaron J Dootson’s lighting design crackles with atmosphere, perfectly balancing eerie shadows and bursts of comic brightness, while the quick transitions and horror-inspired flashes add just the right amount of campy thrill.

The costumes designed by Lorraine Parry perfectly capture the musical’s mix of gothic horror and slapstick comedy. Each character feels like they’ve stepped straight out of a classic black-and-white monster film, but with a fun, theatrical exaggeration that complements Mel Brooks’ humour. Frederick’s mad-scientist look, Igor’s cartoonish hunch, the Creature’s striking ensemble, and the ensemble’s playful Bavarian-inspired attire all heighten the humour while giving each character a instantly recognisable style.

Of course, the music is sensational. Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan’s score brims with toe-tapping numbers and clever lyrics that parody classic show tunes while celebrating the genre itself. Crowd favourites include “Please Don’t Touch Me”, “He Vas My Boyfriend”, and the show-stopping “Puttin’ on the Ritz” a tap number so joyous it could resurrect even the most lifeless of souls.

What truly brings this monster to life is the phenomenal cast.Ore Oduba leads the charge as Frederick Frankenstein energetic, charismatic, and wonderfully over-the-top. His comic timing is impeccable, his vocals soar, and his physical comedy is pitch-perfect. he’s a natural showman with bags of charm.

Rhiannon Chesterman as Elizabeth Benning is pure comedy gold her number “Please Don’t Touch Me” is one of the evening’s highlights, bursting with attitude, vocals, and glorious absurdity. Julie Yammanee’s Inga is a delight, bringing infectious enthusiasm and old-school musical glamour, while Jessica Martin is sensational as Frau Blücher, delivering her lines with delicious theatrical precision.

Pete Gallagher gives The Monster both hilarity and heart his rendition of “Puttin’ on the Ritz” is worth the ticket price alone.

But the real scene-stealer of the night? Curtis Patrick as Igor. From his first appearance, he commands the stage with elastic physicality and razor-sharp wit. Every twitch, squint, and raised eyebrow lands perfectly, earning belly laughs from the audience. His partnership with Oduba is comic gold their chemistry and timing are pure magic.

Hope Mill Theatre’s Young Frankenstein is a monstrous masterpiece gloriously camp, irresistibly funny, and packed with electric performances. With stunning direction, inventive staging, and a cast that radiates joy, this is musical comedy at its finest.

“It’s a riotous, electrifying celebration of everything that makes Hope Mill Theatre so special—daring, dazzling, and absolutely unmissable.

If you’re looking for a show to lift your spirits this autumn, head to Hope Mill Theatre and prepare to laugh until you’re reanimated.

It’s alive and it’s absolutely brilliant!

Young Frankenstein the Musical  is at the Hope Mill Theatre until Sunday 30th November 2025. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.

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Photo Credit - Mark Senior