Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
21 December 2025
The White Bear Theatre
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is another one-man adaptation by Brother Wolf, recently staged at the White Bear Theatre in Kennington. James Hyland has adapted the story of Dr Jekyll, a respected scientist who seeks to bring out his second nature by creating a serum that transforms him into Mr Hyde, a ruthless villain who follows every dark urge, accepting no responsibility for his violent crimes and never repenting.
Presented as a lecture by Dr. Jekyll, this production leans into a first-person perspective of the story. Starting off with a confident Jekyll, verging on the arrogant, giving an impassioned speech on the limitations of scientific exploration of human behaviour within the accepted moral framework. There are small hints of Mr Hyde wanting to break free while Dr. Jekyll presents his self-research findings, subtly foreshadowing the later developments. In this retelling of the dark tale, the crimes of Jack the Ripper are skilfully woven into the narrative, explaining the precise surgical cuts through Jekyll’s medical skills. In an increasingly breathless frenzy, the story explores Jekyll’s descent into the villainous Mr. Hyde who freely succumbs to every dark urge, wreaking havoc in London’s East End.
The presentation is gripping from the first moment, with expertly paced storytelling that fully envelops the audience in the macabre world of human depravity, directly challenging deeply held concepts and beliefs with ease. Hyland’s character work is outstanding, giving each character unique mannerisms and voices, making it immediately apparent who is speaking. The sharp and violent tale is evocative and urgent, with increasing glimpses of Mr. Hyde commanding the audience’s attention. Weaving a high-speed tale of full body storytelling keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
A deeply unsettling production that showcases single-handed entertainment at its best, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is another brilliant Brother Wolf show that provokes the audience to sit in discomfort, a masterful display of gothic horror at its most engaging.
