Cynthia Erivo plays 23 characters in one-woman ‘Dracula’

British-Nigerian actress Cynthia Erivo has begun previews of a new West End production of “Dracula” at the Noël Coward Theatre, London. The technically ambitious staging quickly attracted attention from both audiences and theater enthusiasts alike.

In this one-woman adaptation of Bram Stoker’s gothic novel, Erivo performs all 23 characters, including Count Dracula, Mina Murray, Jonathan Harker, Lucy Westenra, and Abraham Van Helsing.

Dracula is adapted and directed by Tony-Award nominated and multi-award-winning Australian theater maker Kip Williams, who is known for blending live performance with cinematic techniques.

This staging employs a distinctive cine-theater format, combining live acting with real-time cameras, pre-recorded footage, and multiple onstage screens, allowing Erivo to interact with filmed versions of herself while rapidly switching between characters.

Dracula follows its 2024 premiere with the Sydney Theatre Company, where the show was first presented. 

It also marks the final chapter in Williams’ self-described gothic trilogy, which also includes his acclaimed adaptations of The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

The news website The Express Tribune said preview performances began on February 7, with an official opening night scheduled for February 17. The show will run Mondays to Saturdays for a strictly limited season of approximately 16 weeks, closing in May 2026.

According to the same report, the technical demands of the production which involves extensive use of live cameras and synchronized video elements  resulted in the delay of previews to allow for additional rehearsal time.

Audience response to the previews has been overwhelmingly positive, with reports of standing ovations celebrating Erivo’s versatility and commanding presence in the solo role. Industry analysts and commentators have highlighted the performance as one of the most challenging and talked-about theatrical feats currently playing in London.

For the Wicked star, Dracula represents a significant return to the London stage, marking her first appearance at the Menier Chocolate Factory  in nearly a decade since her acclaimed performance in The Color Purple. 

Her 2015 Broadway debut in that revival earned her the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. The production arrives during a prolific period in Erivo’s career, following major screen success and international recognition across theater, film, and music.

The creative team includes Olivier Award-winning designer Marg Horwell, lighting designer Nick Schlieper, video designer Craig Wilkinson, sound designer Jessica Dunn, and composer Clemence Williams — all longtime collaborators of Kip Williams whose vision  shaped the show’s distinctive visual and sonic style.

Critics and audiences are watching closely as Dracula pushes the limits of contemporary theater, combining  live performance with cinematic storytelling to offer a classic horror story for modern audiences.