Review: Dracula at its bloodthirsty best in Garrick performance

It’s the original Gothic horror story - with its bloodthirsty main protagonist one of the most portrayed literary characters of all time, writes Jon Griffin.

More than 125 years after Bram Stoker dreamt up Count Dracula for his classic Victorian novel, the most famous vampire in history is still getting his teeth into memorable stage productions, such as the Blackeyed Theatre version at the Garrick.

Stoker apparently never made very much money out of the blood-sucking Transylvanian Count, with the novel only becoming a best-seller after his death in 1912.

But the recent discovery of a rare letter in a collection acquired from a buyer in the US showed that Stoker had always believed his novel would be regarded for posterity as ‘high’ literature, rather than throwaway pulp horror.

That has indeed proved to be the case - and the Garrick was packed out for the second of two performances of the ultimate horror story.

The six strong cast swapped roles throughout - occasionally leaving the audience guessing who was who - but the production stayed largely true to the original story, with David Chafer bringing a genuine spine-chilling touch of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee to his portrayal of the sinister Count.

With productions like this, the most notorious vampire in literary history is surely in safe hands, if not his poor victims…

Dracula was performed at the Garrick on 16 and 17 December. It was produced by Blackeyed Theatre in association with Harrogate Theatre and South Hill Park Arts Centre