National Theatre of Scotland reveals cast and creatives for ”Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning”

The National Theatre of Scotland has announced its full cast and creative team for the upcoming world premiere of Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning.

Co-produced by Aberdeen Performing Arts in association with Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre, the touring production will be directed by Sally Cookson.

Conceived by playwright Morna Pearson and Cookson, the piece adapts and relocates Bram Stoker’s classic novel to the wild beauty of Aberdeenshire and North-East Scotland. It is set in a psychiatric hospital in 1897.

Pearson said: “I was excited to adapt Dracula and place it in the familiar setting of the North-East, the place where my writing feels at home. I wanted to examine themes of our times – fear, trauma, and powerlessness – in ways the horror genre lends itself to.

“With Stoker drawing influence from Cruden Bay, it felt appropriate to relocate the narrative to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, exploring the area and characters I find most inspirational.

“There is room for more horror and stories from the North-East in theatre, so I am thrilled that my first large-scale production is a bold retelling of Dracula set there.”

The company is led by Danielle Jam (Kidnapped) as Mina, alongside Ailsa Davidson (Heathers the Musical) as Lucy and Elsie, Liz Kettle (Macbeth – An Undoing) as Dracula, Natalie Arle-Toyne (Mrs Puntila and Her Man Matti) as Van Helsing and Titchy, Maggie Bain (Linck and Mülhahn) as Dr Seward and Georgina, Catriona Faint (Enough of Him) as Jonathan and Annie, Anne Lacey (Medea) as Mr Swails and Bella, and Ros Watt (Godot is a Woman) as Renfield and Katherine.

The creative team includes set and costume designer Kenneth MacLeod, composer Benji Bower, movement director Vicki Manderson, lighting designer Aideen Malone, video designer Lewis den Hertog, casting directors Simone Pereira Hind CDG and Anna Dawson, and BSL performance interpreters Catherine King and Yvonne Strain.

Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning tours the UK from 2 September until 28 October 2023,
opening at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (with a press night set for 7 September). It will then visit Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, Eden Court, Inverness, Dundee Rep, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and Liverpool Playhouse.