Photo credit: Tony Rogers Be afraid! Be very afraid! The most famous vampire of all, Dracula, is coming to Winchester’s Chesil Theatre in March 2020. Open auditions for the 10 exciting roles, five male five female, are being held on Sunday 8th and Monday 9th December 2019. The characters cover a wide age range from 18 to 60 including two young women (one vivacious the other very proper), an insane inmate of Bedlam asylum, an upright solicitor, plus of course the Prince of Darkness himself.
Set in the 1890s, the narrative follows Count Dracula’s attempt to move from Transylvania to England, seeking, what else, but new blood. From the remote Yorkshire coast to the crowded streets of London, the struggle to stop his vampiric reign begins.
Director John Wakeman said: “This bold modern adaptation is by renowned poet and playwright Liz Lochhead and stays unnervingly close to Bram Stoker’s original nightmare tale.”
An informal reading is being held at the theatre on Friday 6th December at 7.45pm when newcomers are particularly welcome. Dracula runs from 28th March to 4th April 2020 and tickets are now available from
Dracula by Liz Lochhead – open casting call (with playing ages)
Lucy Westerman/Bride of Dracula (18-25) – a vivacious young woman who strains at the bounds of Victorian society, with horrifying results.
Mina Westerman (20-30s) – an intelligent yet proper young lady conforming to Victorian norms and engaged to Jonathan Harker.
Florrie Hathersage/Bride of Dracula (18-25) – maid to the Westerman household, young but worldly.
Mrs Manners/Doctor Goldman/Bride of Dracula (40s+) – Mrs Manners, housekeeper to the Westermans. Doctor Goldman, an intellectual who views her patients as objects of study
Nurse Nesbitt, Grice (40s +) – one character with opposing personalities, sadist/masochist, working at Bedlam.
Dracula/Drinkwater (ageless) – Dracula the Prince of Darkness, pure evil, charming, sophisticated. Drinkwater, an orderly at Bedlam.
Arthur Seward (20s-40s) – old school acquaintance of Jonathan, consulting physician to Renfield at Bedlam, suitor to Lucy.
Jonathan Harker (20s-40s) – fiancé to Mina, up-and-coming solicitor, encounters Dracula on a business trip to Eastern Europe.
Professor Van Helsing (50+) – the one person familiar with vampires and how to fight them.
Renfield (30s-60s) – inmate at Bedlam. Prior encounters with Dracula have left him insane and an unwilling accomplice.
-ends-
For further information please contact:
Flavia Bateson
Chesil Theatre Marketing Team
01962 855544
flavia.bateson@starspray.org
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