I directed Dracula by Hamilton Deane and John Balderston for the Amateur Comedy Club. We set the play in 1924 Purley, England (just outside of London) and added special effects, original music, fight choreography and a magic consultant!
We wanted to make the show an "immersive experience." To that end, we had two pre-show events.
The first took place in Sniffen Court (the ACC is part of this historic mews). Dracula's "undead wife", Mina Weston, could be seen hovering near her photo at her wake.
Julia Duffy
as Wilhelmina Weston
The second experience was in the theatre, itself. We positioned Renfield's cell in the audience, where he could be viewed--through the window of his cell door--catching and eating insects.
Richard Adler
as Renfield
As Dracula (Christopher Galiardo) moves in for his nightly nourishment, Lucy (Ziggy Schulting) is a willing participant.
John Harker (Gautam Kannan) and Dr. Van Helsing (Alexa Poller) interrogate
Renfield (Richard Adler).
Dracula (Christopher Galiardo), with the strength of 20 men, easily hoists Renfield
(Richard Adler) off of the ground, with malevolent intent.
The show ran from 10/26-11/12.