Film & Theatre, Reviews | Posted on October 17th, 2025 | return to news

Jekyll & Hyde

Wimborne Drama Productions, Tivoli Theatre, 16 October

Review by Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

This company is never afraid of crossing new boundaries. Over the past few years, it has staged the comedy-drama ‘Calendar Girls’, courtroom drama ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, the hilarious ‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave’ Em’ and the wartime thriller ‘Pressure’.

And with this play, adapted by Neil Bartlett from the original book by Robert Louis Stevenson — who wrote it whilst living in Westbourne — the company entered new territory.

The story centres round Dr Henry Jekyll, who creates a potion which transforms him into the evil Mr Hyde. The play takes place in and around high society and the lowest places in Victorian London in 1886.

Taking on that incredibly complex role is Andy Gill, who has to turn himself inside out to inhabit the two personas. It is an impressive performance.

The three women in this 10-strong cast are outstanding.

Sali Pike played investigator Dr Stevenson who linked the action, while Scarlet Dixon and Heather Birchenough both had dual roles. My only criticism is that Sali’s first speech is with her back to the audience which affects the clarity.

The play requires the ‘gentlemen’ — Colin Pile, Andy Scott, Calum Hearne, Richard Neal, Richard Scotson and David Beddard-Banks — to go through a wide gamut of emotions, which they all do with skill and split-second timing that is required in every part of this disturbing story.

Michelle Barter took on a huge challenge to direct this complex play, and she must take a bow as must the creative team behind this production. Clearly many, many hours of rehearsal went into recreating the story from this gothic novel.

It runs until Saturday at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Saturday. Tickets available from the Tivoli box office.

The company’s next production is ‘Von Ribbentrop’s Watch’, a dark comedy which will run from 19 to 21 February.