National Theatre of Scotland brings Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning to stages across Scotland and England

A new adaptation of Dracula is heading to stages across Scotland and England from the National Theatre of Scotland.

Scottish playwright Morna Pearson adapts the iconic piece in a co-production with Aberdeen Performing Arts in association with Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.

Directed by Sally Cookson, the bold new adaptation sees the story relocated to Aberdeenshire and the wild beauty of North-East Scotland, acknowledging the area’s recently reported inspiration for Bram Stoker’s classic novel. To mark this, Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning opens at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen in September 2023 before touring to Glasgow, Stirling, Inverness, Dundee, Edinburgh, Coventry and Liverpool.

Set in a psychiatric hospital in Aberdeenshire in 1897, this unique Scottish adaptation places the character of Mina Murray at the centre of the action. Mina seeks refuge at the hospital to escape the horrors she has experienced, retelling her encounters with the most terrifying of beasts: Dracula.

Mina is joined by the patients, an all-women and non-binary ensemble, and together they tell a unique version of Bram Stoker’s legendary tale. We are transported to a world where immortality and ultimate power is possible, even for women – but with terrible consequences.

Making up the cast are Natalie Arle-Toyne, Maggie Bain, Ailsa Davidson, Catriona Faint, Danielle Jam, Liz Kettle, Anne Lacey and Ros Watt.

The production has set and costume design by Kenneth MacLeod, composition by Benji Bower, movement direction by Vicki Manderson, lighting design by Aideen Malone, video design by Lewis den Hertog, casting direction by Simone Pereira Hind CDG and Anna Dawson. BSL Performance interpreters Catherine King and Yvonne Strain.

Writer Morna 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.”

For more information and tickets, visit nationaltheatrescotland.com