“Wicked” and “The Color Purple” star is returning to the stage—and this time, she’s out for blood. Cynthia Erivo will take on the role of Count Dracula and 22 other characters in a bold new one-woman adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. The show will open at London’s Noël Coward Theatre for a limited 16-week run from February 4 to May 31, 2026.
Directed and adapted by Kip Williams for Sydney Theatre Company, “Dracula” blends live acting with pre-recorded video in a style Williams calls “cine-theatre.” The original production premiered in Sydney in 2024 to strong acclaim, with “The Guardian” calling it “a clever and playful production that borrows cinematic tropes and camera angles from early horror films, monster flicks and other cult classics.”
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Erivo was first approached about the role nine months ago during her global “Wicked” press tour. Before signing on, she watched footage of the Sydney run, which starred Zahra Newman, and met with Williams to talk through the show’s inventive format. “She has really spent most of her time with Kip just talking through the inspiration and the dramaturgy of it all,” said producer Michael Cassel. “For them to connect in that way has been important for them because this is a show that they go and create together.”
And she won’t just be playing Dracula. Erivo will also portray Mina, Jonathan Harker, Van Helsing, Lucy Westenra, Renfield, and many others. The performance demands rapid role changes, intense focus, and stamina—something Erivo’s no stranger to. “It’s challenging what they’re being asked to do. It’s a world apart from what Cynthia’s been doing recently, and she can go and find that character and be challenged night in, night out as all good actors are in front of a live audience and I think that’s really thrilling,” said Cassel.
This isn’t a direct copy of the Sydney production. “The original Sydney production will not ‘be a blueprint’ for the West End version,” Cassel explained. “I think what’s so exciting, I think for her, and for us, while we know what the story is, they get to go and create this role in the rehearsal room in London together, and that was very appealing to Cynthia to put her own interpretation on the role and explore that with Kip.”
Although “Dracula” is a play, not a musical, Erivo will sing a single original song near the end of the performance. It was composed by Clemence Williams, whose sound design for “The Picture of Dorian Gray” earned her a Tony nomination. The rest of the show features an eclectic score mixing classical, contemporary, and club music, filling the theatre with a pulse that’s equal parts eerie and electric.
And yes, there are plenty of vampire puns waiting in the wings. With Erivo at the helm, this production is set to be bloody brilliant—and a bite above the rest.
As for what’s next, Cassel says, “We’re just so thrilled Cynthia has agreed to choose this as a project she really wants to be a part of. When you look at Sarah [Snook] as well, these actors have these amazing experiences on film or television, but the draw to the theatre, and indeed to do something that is so challenging, I think it’s testament to the caliber as actors that these individuals are.”
Erivo’s schedule is packed—she’s hosting the Tony Awards in June, filming the action thriller “Karoshi”, and playing Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Hollywood Bowl in August. But the production is building flexibility into the performance calendar, just in case she needs to slip away for a night or two.
For now, the focus is on London. Broadway hasn’t been ruled out, but Cassel says, “All of our focus is on the West End and to make that a success and welcome Cynthia into the world of “Dracula”.”
If you thought you knew Dracula, think again. Cynthia Erivo is about to deliver a performance to die for.
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