PESHAWAR: In the storied halls of one of the city’s most historic institutions, the young performers of Edwardes College Peshawar’s Dramatics Society breathed new life into Mary Shelley’s immortal gothic masterpiece ‘Frankenstein’ here on Sunday evening, delivering a haunting theatrical experience that lingered long after the final curtain.

A select gathering of families, alumni, academics and discerning theatre enthusiasts filled the venerable Old Hall of the college. The atmosphere was electric with eagerness as lights dimmed, transporting the audience into a world of scientific hubris, existential torment and the fragile boundaries between creator and creation.

Shelley’s novel, widely regarded as the first true science fiction story and a profound exploration of the human condition, examines ambition, the ethics of creation, parental abandonment and the corrosive effects of societal rejection. The student-led adaptation remained faithful to these themes while making them resonate with contemporary anxieties about unchecked technological progress and moral responsibility.

Prof Nasir Iqbal, head of Dramatics Society, who steered the production through considerable odds, expressed quiet satisfaction after the show. “We had very little rehearsal time -- just 10 days -- because of examinations and, frankly speaking, the current situation of the world. Many people thought it would not happen,” he told this scribe.

Performance of students enthrals audience

“I kept faith in it. If anything, this was the time it was needed the most. Art doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. Rather, it becomes essential in difficult times. I am proud of my team for making it work,” he said.

The moral and emotional heart of the performance lay in the complex conflict between Victor Frankenstein, portrayed by Mehmood Hasan Khan, and his forsaken creature, brought to terrifying yet deeply moving life by Shabab Khan.

Khan’s portrayal stood out for its emotional depth and physical commitment. Far from a mere monster, his creature emerged as a tragic figure-- eloquent, suffering, and disturbingly human -- blurring the lines between protagonist and antagonist. The audience responded with palpable empathy as the creature’s isolation and yearning for connection unfolded on stage.

Students Aishma Khan Shinwari and Syed Tasweeb Zubair told this scribe that the live show gave great relief and deep peep. Young performers impressed the jam-packed hall with their outstanding performance, they added.

Supporting performances added richness to the narrative. Sabahat as Elizabeth, Zeeshan as Monsieur Frankenstein, Fatima as De Lacey and the ensemble including Shazaib (Gretel), Shayan (Gustav), Maaz (Klaus), Tariq (Felix), Iqra (Agatha), Hassam, Manahil (Clarice), Afifa Mashal (female creature), and Sami (Priest) contributed committed and nuanced portrayals.

The production’s technical team deserves special mention. Atmospheric lighting, a brooding sounds cape, meticulously crafted costumes and makeup, and an evocative set transformed the Old Hall into a 19th century world of laboratories, icy wildernesses and lonely cottages. The seamless stage management kept the momentum taut throughout.

By reviving ‘Frankenstein’ at this moment, Edwardes College has once again affirmed the vital role of literature and live theatre in fostering critical thinking and empathy among young minds. In an age of rapid scientific advancement and social fragmentation, the questions Shelley posed two centuries ago felt urgently alive on a Peshawar stage.

The performance served not merely as entertainment but as a powerful reminder that true art confronts humanity with its own reflection -- beautiful, flawed and endlessly complex.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2026