What is a monster? This is the question that Harrow-born director James Williams is exploring in his latest adaptation of the classic gothic novel, Frankenstein.

The 38-year-old, who studied the novel whilst studying English Literature at the University of Sheffield, says: “When Frankenstein was written, people would have been scared and horrified by the story and I want bring that same sense of fear back but to a modern audience.”

What constitutes being a monster has changed over time, much of it through science, evolution and greater knowledge and therefore, what is feared has also changed too. What a monster was, often would be determined through physical appearance, although certain human behaviour can also be seen as monstrous, but what Mary Shelly’s novel does is blur the boundaries of not only what a monster is, but who it is, and this is something that James is keen to highlight in his production.

He says: “Our production is the adaption of Mary Shelly’s novel written by Helen Newall, which also features both Mary Shelly and her husband Percy. People now have a lot of preconceptions about Frankenstein, as so much has been done on it, so it’s good to go back to the original.

“Helen intertwines Percy and Mary’s relationship and the events that happen in real life with the events in the novel. In fact, when Mary Shelly was writing the novel, part of her ideas came from her dreams and nightmares, which we are hoping to bring to the stage. What we actually want to do through this, is bring that sense of horror to the stage.”

James, who has worked with the Hertfordshire County Youth Theatre for the past ten years, adds: “Frankenstein is a piece which says so much, even to a modern audience and that’s partly why it was chosen.

"There is a lot of debate about arts versus science and here is a piece that looks at what happens when someone completely disregards the arts and pursues science in a bid to discover the secrets of life and the consequences of doing that. I think it’s a great way to for students in education to look at piece that does something so topical and it’s great to direct.

“We also have a great stage designer, Rebecca Brown, who has made these dark mountain, lakes landscape that come out into the audience, which I think will heighten this element of horror.”

“And the cast - members from the company who are taking part are from across Hertfordshire and what they are bringing to this production is fantastic and the energy they have during rehearsals and not to mention the research they did for the roles.”

The former Watford Grammar School for Boys pupil explains that the youth theatre, which is based at Watford Palace Theatre and open to anyone aged between 13 to 19 living and going to school in Hertfordshire, is a great way to gain professional theatre experience at young age.

“For me, one of the great things about this company is that it gives you the opportunity to work in an acting ensemble,” he says. “Most of the time it is just a handful of cast members, but here you are working alongside professionals in staging, costumes and sound and by working as an ensemble you are able to see the process of the production and what it needs to work.”

James himself first took to the stage as an actor, joining in school productions and a youth theatre before trying his hand at directing. His love affair with theatre began when he was just three-years-old, when he was first taken to see a production starring his mother – an experience most children would wriggle their way through impatiently. But he was not like other children.

“When my Dad took me the first time he actually thought I was going to get really bored and that we would have to leave during the interval, but I sat and watched it throughout and was completely mesmerised by it,” recalls James.

However, he admits that he always felt quite envious of what the directors were doing, as an actor.

He says: “I saw how creative they were and that they were making decisions that affected the whole production. I loved being an actor but found it quite limited.

“I am one of those people that is fascinated by everything and I have done jobs in most roles in the theatre and being a director sort of brings it altogether.”

He says of his work with the youth theatre: “Over the years we have put on some great productions at the company including Peter Pan, Fantastic Mr Fox and Arabian Nights. Now we’re looking to do James and the Giant Peach to mark the centenary of Roald Dahl.”

Watford Palace Theatre, March 18-19. Details: 01923 225671, watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk