Frantic Assembly’s Metamorphosis In Collaboration With Lemn Sissay On UK Tour Next Year

The theatre production company Frantic Assembly, renowned for their use of movement and physicality in their work, will collaborate with the internationally celebrated poet and playwright Lemn Sissay on a new adaptation of Franz Kafka’s piece.

The adaptation of Kafka's famous novella will have a four-week run at Lyric Hammersmith from 1 February to 2 March 2024.

The show will premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 12 to 16 September 2023, before heading to Leicester's Curve (19 to 23 September) and MAST Mayflower Studios (26 to 30 September).

Metamorphosis follows the story of a man transforming into a huge insect and depicts a devastating tale of human insignificance crushed under the heel of a system.

Sissay said:

"This will be my second adaptation after Benjamin Zephaniah's Refugee Boy in 2013. Words make movement, words precede movement and words (spoken or written) are movement. Frantic Assembly is the theatre of movement. My aim is to move the audience and to be moved. Metamorphosis is iconic. I am nervous, like an olympian, a long-distance runner, the starting gun has fired, dust plumes beneath my feet, the end is a long way away. I pace myself, I focus and I concentrate..."

The play is directed by Frantic Assembly’s Artistic Director Scott Graham, known for the theatre works of Othello, Lovesong and Beautiful Burnout.

Graham commented:

"I am absolutely buzzing to be collaborating with the wonderful Lemn Sissay. The potential of this project to spin physical and lyrical poetry around this classic story thrills me. This is a meeting of minds, Ready to Play and explore and find out what we can bring to this iconic title."

Co-produced by Theatre Royal Plymouth, MAST Mayflower Studios, Curve and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, this will be Frantic's first new production since I Think We Are Alone.

Casting and full creative team are to be announced in the new year.