IT could almost be claimed that theatregoers are about to get two-for-the-price-of-one at Malvern’s Festival Theatre.

That’s because there will be a one week run of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous, and fabulous dark tale and the roles will be played by just one actor.

Leading the company in the titular role of this new production, which has been adapted by David Edgar, is Phil Daniels.


A twisted story of nerve-jangling horror, this adaptation of the classic gothic thriller stars Daniels in both roles when it opens on Tuesday, February 27 and runs through to Saturday, March 3.

In a secret experiment, the upright and respectable Dr Henry Jekyll splits his personality into two, releasing the fiendish and murderous Edward Hyde.



As Hyde brings about mayhem, terror and death in foggy London, can Jekyll find a way to suppress his monstrous alter-ego, before it takes him over for good?



Phil Daniels’ theatre his credits include King Lear (Chichester Festival Theatre), Anthony and Cleopatra, Knight of The Burning Pestle (Shakespeare's Globe), Les Miserables (Queens Theatre) and This House (National Theatre and Garrick Theatre).

On television he is perhaps best known for his role as Kevin Wicks in EastEnders.

His other television work takes in a very long list and includes Zapped, Mooonfleet, Doctor Who, Rocks and Chips, New Tricks, Misfits, Outlaws, Waking the Dead, The Long Firm, Time Gentlemen Please, Holding On and Sex, Chips and Rock n Roll. For film, Access All Areas, The Hatton Garden Job, This House, Vinyl, Goodbye Charlie Bright, Chicken Run, Scum and Quadrophenia. 


David Edgar is a Tony Award-winning playwright for stage, radio, television and film.

His original plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company include Destiny, Pentecost (Evening Standard best play award), The Prisoner's Dilemma and Written on the Heart His RSC adaptations include The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs, Nicholas Nickleby (Society of West End Theatres and New York Tony awards), and, most recently, A Christmas Carol.

Asked how he would describe this version on the classic story, Phil Daniels said: “It's set in Victorian London so it's traditional in that respect and it's quite close in many respects to the book as well, but it delves into Dr Jekyll's personal life a bit more.

"There are more female characters in it, like his sister, and it explores how his father – who started the experiment which Dr Jekyll continues – was never very nice to him in his lifetime.”

As for his take on the dual characters at the centre of the plot he said: “When I first spoke to Jenny King [the show's producer and creator of the Touring Consortium Theatre Company] about Jekyll and Hyde I was interested in the way sometimes when people have a drink they become different people.

“You know, they can be as good as gold one day but as soon as they've had a drink they become snarling animals.”