A bloody adaptation of one of literature’s most iconic horror stories is set to take over Beenleigh’s Crete St Theatre this October.
Before audiences see the first drop of stage blood, months of work have already gone into bringing Dracula to life.
For Ghostlight Theatre Co director Yasmin Elahi, the production represents the biggest undertaking yet, combining physical theatre, practical effects and a large cast and creative team to create an immersive experience for audiences.
“January, February is when we really started thinking about it. We had about three months of preproduction, just planning the look of the show and then we cast it and started rehearsals in June,” Ms Elahi said.
While audiences will experience the finished production over four performances, most of the work happens behind the scenes long before opening night.
From rehearsals and set construction to costume design, lighting and sound, staging a production of this scale requires the efforts of a ream working towards a shared vision.
“We are a pretty small company… but we have an assistant director who has been very helpful. We have a fight choreographer, a stage manager, makeup artist, photographers. I would say probably 10 to 15 people helping backstage helping out,” Ms Elahi said.
“This is our biggest show. We’re at a much bigger theatre than we’re used to, so it has been a mammoth task… We started by looking at the overall artistic vision of the show. I knew that I wanted it to be very dark, I wanted it to be very gothic.
“We’re really moving away from the romantic side of Dracula and focusing on him as the true villain, and it’s a story about the fight between good and evil,” Ms Elahi said.
One of Ghostlight Theatre Co’s trademarks is its use of practical horror effects and physical storytelling, creating moments designed to feel immediate and unsettling in a live theatre setting.
For Elahi, bringing those elements together has also presented some of the production’s biggest challenges.
“For us, budget is always a huge constraint. We are not for profit. We don’t have any budget…
“It’s forced us to become really creative in terms of making our own props sourcing them from other companies and other creatives that have been really helpful and supportive of this production,” Ms Elahi said.
Despite the challenges, there are moments Elahi is particularly excited for audiences to experience when the curtain rises.
“Magic moments that occur throughout the show, because obviously Dracula does have some superpowers, so I’m excited for audiences to see how we achieve that on stage without the use of editing or any sort of video effect.
“But I think my most anticipated moment is the end of Act One and I think it’s a moment that audiences are going to really enjoy and appreciate.”
Rehearsals have also given the director a chance to watch the cast and creative team bring the story to life, with the collaboration between performers and crew becoming one of the most rewarding moments of the process.
“It has been quite magical to watch them come together and really embrace the vision that I have for them. They’ve been working really hard and it has been a labour of love.”
The production will be staged at Crete St Theatre at Beenleigh, bringing Ghostlight Theatre Co’s largest show to the local community.
“I think we really make theatre accessible for all and really contemporise it and bring it to a new audience. It’s destigmatising the fact that plays are not boring things… they can be incredible pieces of live entertainment,” Ms Elahi said.
If audiences could step backstage before the show, Ms Elahi says there is one part of the production process she would most like them to see.
“I’ve really enjoyed seeing our makeup artist do her thing because obviously everything is live.
“So, watching her apply prosthetics and really transform these people that I know and see every day into otherworldly creatures has been incredible.”
As Dracula prepares to open on Friday 9 October, Ms Elahi said she hoped audiences were left with an appreciation not only for the horror unfolding on stage, but also for the local artists and creative team who have worked to bring the iconic story to life.
“Every single person involved with this production is a volunteer. No one is getting paid, no one makes money… It’s really a labour of love,” Ms Elahi said.
Dracula opens at 7.30pm on Friday 9 October, with shows on Saturday and Sunday. Book via trybooking.
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