IT is 200 years since Mary Shelley published her groundbreaking novel, Frankenstein, and invented the classic gothic horror story. The idea of the mad scientist meddling with nature to create life would capture the imaginations of generations.

The arrogance, the cruelty and the disastrous consequences of such folly has provided writers, film-makers and stage directors with compelling material ever since.

So it is particularly impressive that this “modern re-imagining” by theatre group SISATA, working with BAFTA winning writer John Foster and director Charmaine K. Parker, finds a different angle from which to view the Frankenstein story.

We find scientist Frankie (Neelam Parmar) working with her assistants Eris (Frank Leon) and Xero (Seth Tonkin) in a dystopian world of the not-too-distant future. Her creation is a woman called Angel (Emily Rowan) who maybe, just maybe, can help combat the ills of a hostile and dying world.

Predictably, there have been a few miscalculations along the way and Angel finds herself conflicted over gender identity and challenged not only by the brutal state of the world into which she has been thrust, but by her very existence.

Eventually, angry and sad, she turns on her creators. It is powerful material; well written and well acted. And where better to perform it than at the Shelley Theatre, which was built by Mary Shelley’s son in the grand house where he hoped she would one day come and live. Sadly, Mary died before she could move to Shelley Manor.

How wonderful that her inspiration lives on in this most appropriate of venues.