Characters

Doctor Stevenson A newly qualified Doctor, admitted in 1886 to a previously all male profession. She is young, tough, and outspoken, but also inexperienced. She recounts her story of the case of Dr Jekyll. Dr Stevenson was based on a real female doctor from the time.

A Girl The first victim of Mr Hyde, who he attacks in the street. She is a teenage sex worker. She becomes part of the narrative and along with Doctor Stevenson and the Matron, frames the story as it is being told.

Matron Works in the hospital where Doctor Stevenson has just started, but is much more experienced. She is stern, efficient and robust. Mrs Poole Dr Jekyll’s housekeeper, she recounts some of the vital events in the story.

The Chorus of Gentlemen The chorus represent the patriarchy, the male power in the play, and they sit in the tiered seating of the Victorian lecture theatre, literally looking down on Doctor Stevenson. They are the ensemble of the play, telling the story at key moments and reconstructing events, commenting as it develops. They each have a “Hyde” side themselves.

Dr Jekyll A Doctor in his prime, aged 35-40. Goodlooking, very wealthy, respected, with the smooth air of upper-class superiority. His house contains a private laboratory, he is a radical, experimenting with new theories. He is a highly skilled liar. Dr Lanyon says he always had a “slyish cast about the face”. Whilst he is a well to do Doctor by day, at night he has shameful urges, which is why he initially seeks to create a potion to split his personality, meaning his evil, dark side could be let out, and he would have no knowledge of it. Throughout the story he loses control of Mr Hyde who takes over, and cannot be controlled by the potion Dr Jekyll has invented. Dr Jekyll kills himself with cyanide to stop Mr Hyde from consuming him. Mr Hyde Dr Jekyll’s alter-ego. Indefinably odd. Described as small, neat, deformed somehow, wrong, disgusting, but it’s always vague – “it was rather as if he didn’t have a face”. His voice is cold, icy, chilling.

Mr Enfield A “pompous middle aged man” – who is the first witness to Hyde’s actions. He sees the girl being attacked and comes forward, though is protective of Jekyll and doesn’t want to confess that it was his name on the cheque.

Mr Utterson A well-connected, authoritative lawyer, who went to school with Jekyll and is now his solicitor. He seems to be an upright image of propriety, but he lies and withholds information from the Police, and prevaricates when it comes to Jekyll, refusing to believe anything bad about his friend. Dr Hastie Lanyon An older Doctor and friend of Jekyll’s. He witnesses the terrible transformation from Hyde to Jekyll and dies from the shock.

Inspector Newcome A Scotland Yard detective, investigating the murder of Sir Danvers Carew.

Mr Guest A clerk in Dr Utterson’s legal chambers who also has expertise in graphology – analysing handwriting. He looks at the note from Mr Hyde and confirms that it is Dr Jekyll’s writing.