A Haunting Performance: Manchester Pupils Take Centre Stage in Dracula

Pupils from The Manchester Grammar School, alongside their peers from Manchester High School for Girls, collaborated to produce a remarkable staging of Dracula. Senior school and Sixth Form pupils took to the stage for four thrilling performances of Liz Lochhead’s modern adaptation of Bram Stoker’s gothic classic.

This bold reimagining explored contemporary anxieties, from shifting gender dynamics to the tension between science and superstition. With a shadowy, German Expressionist-inspired set and the accompaniment of a live string quartet, the cast created an intelligent, provocative, and utterly captivating theatrical experience.

To meet the production’s demanding schedule, two casts were used for the main roles. Year 12 pupil Ollie and Year 13 pupil Kingsley were selected to play Dracula, sharing their reflections on the challenge and excitement of bringing the iconic character to life.

Ollie reflected on his Drama journey so far, balancing GCSE exams with auditions, and spoke about the valuable skills he had developed along the way.

He said: “Taking on the role of Count Dracula in The Manchester Grammar School’s production of Dracula was a fascinating and rewarding challenge – one that I know will remain a defining highlight of my time at MGS. Drama has been a huge part of my school life ever since I joined, from sheepishly donning a wig as ‘Mary’ in a comedic re-telling of The Nativity back in Year 7, to now – finishing my penultimate school play as one of literature’s most iconic villains. Balancing schoolwork and rehearsals was challenging, but it taught me valuable lessons in time management and discipline. I feel proud to have been part of such an ambitious and visually striking production, which wouldn’t have been possible without the brilliant backstage team: Laura Crabbe, Chantelle Walton and Steve Higham. The lighting, sound, and costume design brought Dracula’s eerie world to life, and stepping onto the finished set for the first time felt completely transformative.”

Kingsley, reflecting on his final year at MGS, spoke about the significance of being involved in such a major production in an iconic role. He described the experience of playing Dracula as a highlight of his time at MGS, combining the excitement of the stage with the unique challenge of bringing such a legendary character to life.

He said: “Dracula was, in some ways, a bittersweet performance for me. As my last show at MGS, it certainly represents the culmination of my enjoyment of the amazing opportunities that the school provides us to express ourselves through drama. I would like to give my greatest thanks to Ms Tetley and Mrs Baldwin, who have tirelessly worked on making this incredibly complex piece of theatre into a success. The girls who came over from Manchester High School for Girls were absolutely outstanding in their roles as Mina, Lucy and the Vampire brides. Both Kiyah and Safa, who played Lucy and Mina, are both stalwarts of MGS theatre productions, and they have both certainly ended their accounts on an ecstatic high. Overall, I am so glad to have been a part of this amazing project, and performing in this show has inspired me to want to perform in more productions when I am at university.”

Congratulations to all the MGS and MHSG pupils involved in this outstanding production, both those performing on stage and those working tirelessly behind the scenes, and a special mention to the talented pupils and staff involved with the string quartet, delivering truly magnificent music that accompanied the production throughout.