Dracula’s Guest brings Victorian horror back to the stage

Brother Wolf is bringing its award-winning production of Dracula’s Guest back to the stage this autumn, including a performance at The Riverfront in Newport.

There are few figures in gothic horror quite as enduring as Dracula, but Brother Wolf’s Dracula’s Guest takes Bram Stoker’s source material and gives it a distinctive theatrical interpretation of its own.

Adapted and directed by actor, writer and producer James Hyland, the multi award-winning production explores the darker side of Victorian horror, looking beyond the familiar vampire mythology to questions of terror, collective evil and personal spite.

The production marks the 12th work from Brother Wolf, following a catalogue of acclaimed productions including A Christmas Carol: As Told by Jacob Marley (Deceased), Fagin’s Last Hour, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, A Lesson from Auschwitz, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and Silver & Gold.

Dracula’s Guest itself has already received significant recognition, winning both the Hamilton Deane Award from The Dracula Society in 2022 and an OffComm Commendation from the Off West End Awards in 2022.

The production has also received strong reviews for its intensity and approach to gothic storytelling, with Voice Magazine describing it as “not for the faint of heart”, while British Theatre Journal called it “the Godfather of vampire adaptations”.

At its centre is Dracula himself, an ancient creature carrying the burden of immortality and living with the hatred of those who see him only as a monster. Alone in his keep, surrounded by memories of centuries gone by, his existence has become a kind of living death.

That changes with the arrival of some very particular guests.

The question is whether they can survive their host's unusual hospitality, as Dracula sets out to deliberately drive them insane.

The production stars James Hyland alongside Ashton Spear, with original music by composer and sound designer Chris Warner.

Hyland, who is Artistic Director and Founder of Brother Wolf, has more than 30 years of professional experience across theatre, film and television. His work has included productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, alongside a long-running series of solo theatrical works and award-winning performances.

His previous Brother Wolf productions have taken on literary classics and difficult historical subjects, often placing a single performer at the heart of intense theatrical experiences. His performance as Dracula in Dracula’s Guest earned him the Hamilton Deane Award, while his work across theatre and screen has received more than 40 awards.

Ashton Spear joins him as an actor, having worked extensively across theatre, film and television since graduating from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. His screen credits include Locked Up Abroad, Dearly Departed, Still Young, 999 Killer on the Line and The Haunting of Margam Castle.

The production's music comes from Chris Warner, whose work spans theatre, television and film. His credits include previous Brother Wolf productions alongside work for the Royal Shakespeare Company, ITV, BBC Films and Sky History. He has also collaborated with musicians including Dame Evelyn Glennie and Ayanna Witter-Johnson.

For audiences who enjoy their theatre dark, atmospheric and unapologetically theatrical, Dracula’s Guest promises a compact and intense encounter with Victorian gothic horror.

The production is recommended for audiences aged 12 and over, with the producers warning that it contains material including scenes of a violent and bloody nature.

Dracula’s Guest in Wales

The production comes to The Riverfront in Newport on Friday 2 October 2026 at 8pm, giving Welsh audiences the chance to experience the award-winning production before it continues its autumn tour.

The Riverfront
Kingsway
Newport, NP20 1HG

Tickets: 01633 656757

Dracula’s Guest will also visit London on 13 October and Skipton on 28 October.

For more information about Brother Wolf and the production, visit brotherwolf.org.uk.

Dracula’s Guest
Actor, Writer, Producer and Director: James Hyland
Actor: Ashton Spear
Composer: Chris Warner