Vampire night to be held at Exeter theatre – Devon Live

Comments(0)

An Exeter theatre is set to hold a free vampire night later this month. Here is everything you need to know.

An acclaimed Professor of Gothic horror is heading to Exeter's Northcott theatre to reveal how Dracula was based on medical evidence of 'real' vampires, before a performance of Dracula itself.

'Prof of Goth', Nick Groom, who is world expert on Gothic fiction, is preparing to present to the Exeter audience compelling medical evidence of the 'real' vampires that Dracula was based on.

He will be holding the free talk AT 5.30pm on March 31, where he will explain how Bram Stoker 'borrowed' widely from the Devonian writer Sabine Baring-Gould when he wrote Dracula.

The talk will take place on the first-night of a brand-new comedy adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula by local Exeter theatre company, Le Navet Bete.

Dracula: the Bloody Truth, will take audiences on a journey across Europe from the dark and sinister Transylvanian mountains to the awkwardly charming seaside town of Whitby where a frantic Van Helsing, the vampire hunter, stages a life-changing theatrical production of Dracula.

The play is a humorous take on Bram Stoker's original Dracula, the late-19th-century Gothic horror novel about a Transylvanian vampire who comes to Britain in search of fresh blood.

Before the performance, the one-off pre-theatre talk on vampires by Professor Groom, which is free to the general public, and will take place in the Northcott's theatre caf/bar.

Read more: You can now buy gin and tonic infused Easter Eggs

Sir Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor of the University of Exeter, said: "The University is delighted to support such an excellent local theatre, and the exciting programme of plays it is offering to Exeter and the South West. I'm very pleased our academics, such as Professor Groom, are working with the Northcott to share their knowledge and expertise on a range of subjects with people from Exeter and further afield.

"Professor Groom is one of the country's experts on the Gothic, and has earned the moniker 'Prof of Goth'. I have no doubt Professor Groom will thrill, and perhaps unnerve theatre goers with his explanation of just how Bram Stoker came to know so much about vampires."

The Prof of Goth, whose talk is designed for the general public and afficionados of the Gothic alike, will read passages from Dracula that mirror medical descriptions of how 'real-life' vampires are recorded to have behaved.

With trade-mark theatrical flourish, Professor Groom will show how Bram Stoker would have been aware of accounts of 18th century physicians investigating reports of undead monsters who gorged themselves on blood. These incidents led to bodies in Eastern Europe being dug up, decapitated, staked through the heart, and cremated.

Vampire night is the first in a series of lectures by academics from the University of Exeter for local people tied to theatrical productions at the Northcott Theatre, which is based on the University campus.

Artistic Director of the Northcott Theatre, Paul Jepson added: "We are delighted to be hosting this event. Partnership between the University of Exeter and the Exeter Northcott theatre is going from strength to strength and we are increasingly being noticed as a model for a Regional Arts Organisation working creatively and imaginatively with Higher Education.

"It is a relationship of enormous possibilities. We are also delighted to be opening a new show by our Associate Company Le Navet Bete. They are an incredibly funny, agile, energised, inventive and engaging troupe. Be prepared for a treat on multiple fronts."

The play Dracula: The Bloody Truth will begin at 7pm. Tickets are available to buy online at https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/.

Read more:
Vampire night to be held at Exeter theatre - Devon Live

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero