Dracula, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
After Twilight and other modern, American teen sagas it’s good to get back to the real, original tale of vampires with Liz Lochhead’s adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel.
There are no glowing school boys wearing special rings here to allow the walking dead to head into sunlight – thankfully.
This production of the tale from the 1800s has more of a 1970s classic Hammer House of Horrors studio feel than the modern-day vampire-themed fantasy romance.
Sexual, raunchy, and at times light, this production is very entertaining. Matthew Vaughan as Count Dracula has something of Sesame Street’s The Count about him, and plays up the role in true Hammer House style – a brilliant performance.
The scenes in the asylum are disturbing, and give this production an edge, however, maybe these were slightly over used.
One of the main stars of this production for me is the set which transports us from the London mad-house to the North Yorkshire coast and over to the Transylvanian castle of the count.
If you are looking for blood and gore you will be disappointed. However if it is style, sex and a thrilling night at the theatre book your tickets now.
Dracula runs until November 7
Karen Morley
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