Review: DRACULA - THE UNTOLD STORY, Imitating the Dog and Leeds Playhouse (Watford Palace Theatre)

Photo credit: Ed Waring

It’s New Year’s Eve, 1963 in London, England.   A mutilated body has been found and a young woman has walked into Marylebone Police Station to confess to murder.  The woman claims to be Mina Harker, the last living survivor of the group that witnessed Count Dracula’s destruction 65 years earlier.  Mina Harker hasn’t been seen since she disappeared in 1905, this woman appears to be in her 20’s, she can’t possibly be the person she claims to be …. Or can she?

The play appears as a live graphic novel on the back drop of the stage.  With only three cast members, Riana Duce (Mina Harker), Adela Rajnovic (WPC Williams) and Matt Prendergast (DS Donaldson) and some very clever and well thought out camera angles, green screens and basic props, this is indeed a very imaginative and aesthetically pleasing piece.

The characters speech bubbles double up very nicely as a captioned performance, without distracting from the story being told.  It’s fascinating and absorbing with unexpected twists and turns, it’s definitely a new perspective of a well renowned classic.

With flawless performances throughout, co-written and directed by Andrew Quick and Peter Brooks and design by Laura Hopkins, with projection and video design by Simon Wainwright, this production is unquestionably one to watch.

Fresh and unique, yet still a classic tale.

***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Dracula: The Untold Story is at Watford Palace Theatre until 6 November and on tour until 25 November.