A Haunting Performance: MGS and MHSG 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. When I first auditioned, I was slightly apprehensive. Rehearsals were due to overlap with my GCSE exams, and I wasn't sure whether I could manage the workload of both. But in the end, I decided to go for it - and I'm incredibly glad I did. Balancing schoolwork and rehearsals was challenging, but it taught me valuable lessons in time management and discipline. More importantly, it gave me an unforgettable creative experience that strengthened my love for theatre and collaboration.

“This was also my first major role outside of comedy, which pushed me to explore a very different side of performance. Playing Dracula required stepping into the mindset of a character who is both terrifying and strangely captivating. To prepare, I looked to classic portrayals by Gary Oldman and Christopher Lee for inspiration, while also reading parts of Bram Stoker's novel to understand the character's motivations and humanity. I wanted to find my own version of Dracula - one that felt both powerful and unsettling, but also believable. Rehearsals were where that understanding truly developed. Our directors, Mrs Baldwin and Ms Tetley, encouraged creativity and experimentation throughout, making the process collaborative and truly enjoyable. Additionally, working alongside such a talented cast made the experience even more rewarding. Everyone was dedicated and supportive, and there was a genuine sense of collaboration throughout. None of it would 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. I feel proud to have been part of such an ambitious and visually striking production. It was a true team effort that showcased the creativity, talent, and dedication within MGS Drama. Playing Dracula has been a milestone for me, both personally and artistically. It taught me the value of patience, collaboration, and attention to detail - and reminded me why I fell in love with acting in the first place. It's an experience I'll carry with me long after I've left the MGS stage.”

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, and for casting me (I hope Mrs Baldwin has forgiven me now for not taking A Level drama!). I must say, that being a part of this play will be one of my fondest memories of MGS when I leave at the end of the year. Meeting new people and getting to know them over the course of the 4 months that we worked on this project together is such an amazing experience that one can only really get from being in a production. I have also greatly enjoyed playing the titular character, Dracula, and really providing my own interpretation of the role. Instead of a Romanian accent, I opted for lower, upper class London accent, aiming to capture the menacing nature of Dracula in conjunction with his high-class nature as a Count. Working with Harry, who played Jonathan Harker, was a fantastic experience and I feel that our friendship has really developed over the course of the production.

“In particular, I enjoyed performing Act 1, Scene 7 with him: it was an almost 15-minute-long scene of pure tension building, where I felt our dynamic really matched what we imagined the interaction between Dracula and Jonathan would be like. Harry captured the naiveté of Jonathan, and I tried to capture the menacing veneer of charm of Dracula, whose true, animalistic nature slips through the cracks of his façade of sophistication occasionally. Trying to intimidate him was somewhat difficult, since he stands 4 inches taller than me at 6’3! Playing Dracula has its unique idiosyncrasies, such as the intense choreography of every scene where he bites someone, which is certainly a far cry from some of the other, more naturalistic roles I have performed in throughout my time here. 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 pupils involved in this outstanding production, both those performing on stage and, equally importantly, those working 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.