Synetic Theatre Reimagines Frankenstein And Prometheus With Five Star Performances
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
Synetic Theater
Jordan Wright
November 5, 2025
Alex Mills (Prometheus), Vato Tsikurishvili (The Creature), and Maryam Najafzada (Gaia) in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus at Synetic Theater. (Photo/Katerina Kato)
In a wonderfully dark and explosive drama, Synetic Theater yet again reinvents theatre’s dynamic with their unique form of physical theatre. No other companies compare. The entire production is wordless – a style their audiences are quite familiar with. This iconic Georgian troupe stands alone in combining mime, originality, creativity, artistry, costume design, music, sound FX, and physicality. I’ve been reviewing their productions for over a decade and this one was jaw-dropping.
Celebrating their 24th year with Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus in a story that requires no specific holiday, Director and Synetic Theater Co-Founder Paata Tsikurishvili and Resident Dramaturg/Adaptor Nathan Weinberger have breathed new life into Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s familiar Gothic creation myth. The title is the original title from Shelley’s book.
Alex Mills (Prometheus) with the Synetic Ensemble. (Photo/Katerina Kato)
Synetic’s reimagining of Frankenstein paired with the myth of Prometheus feels like stepping into a classic Victorian Era painting peopled with characters torn from the artistry of the painter Hieronymus Bosch, the sculptor Hans Mueck and the author Charles Dickens. It’s fascinating. In this telling, pathos is paired with horror and grief while science wrangles with the vagaries of humanity in a world without empathy to reflect the broader human dilemma.
Prometheus, played brilliantly by Alex Mills in a riveting performance, along with his wife Gaia played poignantly by the sylph-like beauty Maryam Najafzada, and a roving band of survivors survive a terrible storm in the Caucus mountains. Their baby is killed and she is blinded. Prometheus climbs the ice-covered mountains and discovers fire using its power to create The Creature played by the inimitable Vato Tsikurishvili in the performance of a lifetime. Phillip Fletcher, another longtime Synetic troupe member, plays Fire.
Vato Tsikurishvili (The Creature) and Alex Mills (Prometheus). (Photo/Katerina Kato)
There are explosive fight scenes as the gang challenges The Creature, I thought of Picasso’s anti-war painting, “Guernica”, in its grotesque depiction of war. As we have come to expect from this troupe’s dazzling performances, there are mind-blowing displays of sheer physicality, intricately choreographed dance, gravity-defying leaps and flips and classic pantomime. All the action is set to experimental electronica and CG Sound FX by the incomparable sound wizard, Koki Lortkipanidze.
The entirety of this cast is outstanding in every respect. The production redefines acting as both an intensely physical and dramatically interpretive design that requires a unique kind of performer – one classically trained in ballet and acrobatics, and in top physical condition. Every cast member fits that requirement.
I was utterly blown away by the fearless athleticism expressed by this cast as well as the talents of its Choreographer and the troupe’s Co-founder Irina Tsikurishvili and Fight Choreographer Vato Tsikurishvili whose unforgettable portrayal of The Monster is sheer genius. Vato’s massive size and glowing bald head belie his jaw-dropping abilities in the fight scenes, but even more so in the heights he reaches with his leaps, tumbles and lifts in his tender scenes with Gaia. His unparalleled mime skills, and frankly, his entire performance, deserve a Helen Hayes Award.
Maryam Najafzada (Gaia) and Vato Tsikurishvili (The Creature). (Photo/Katerina Kato)
The super amazing ensemble includes Tony Amante, Stella Bunch, Natan-Maël Gray, Liam Klopfenstein and Kaitlyn Shifflett.
Assistant Composer/Sound Design by Aaron Kan; Scenic and Props Design by Phil Charlwood; Costume Design by Erik Teague; Lighting Design by Brian S. Allard; Projections Design by Zavier Augustus Lee Taylor.
Highly recommended!!!
Through November 23rd at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 South Old Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22204. For tickets and information visit www.SyneticTheater.org