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Cynthia Erivo Takes on 23 Roles in West End’s Haunting Dracula Adaptation

BBG News

Next year, it’s expected that Cynthia Erivo will be back on the West End stage, taking on an impressive new role as she portrays another iconic villain.

38-year-old actress was recently cast alongside Ariana Grande in the movie version of the musical “Wicked,” portraying the character Elphaba.

Now, she is going to take on the part of Dracula, along with 22 other characters, in a one-person performance based on Bram Stoker’s gothic novel.

The play has been reworked and overseen by director Kip Williams, who previously won accolades for his rendition of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray featuring Sarah Snook in the leading role.

The play “Dracula” was first shown in Australia way back in the year 2024, and it is set to have its global premiere at London’s Noel Coward Theatre in February 2026.

Cynthia has previously performed on the West End, as she first appeared there in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg back in 2011.

Yet, it was her first appearance on Broadway as Celie in The Color Purple (2015-2017) that earned her a Tony Award.

As an overjoyed admirer, I can hardly contain my excitement about the actress’s upcoming stage roles! It’s as if I’m finally coming back to my beloved home after a long and arduous journey. The anticipation has been building inside me for quite some time now!

Engaging with a tale as profound, layered, and chilling as Dracula presents an enchanting chance to explore characters, legends, and the essence of our humanity.

As soon as I was presented with the opportunity, it continually occupied my thoughts. Kip’s concept is captivating, chilling, and profoundly relatable, providing an avenue to grapple not just with the gloom in existence, but also the radiance we struggle to preserve.

It’s quite special for an actor to embody numerous voices and viewpoints within a single performance, and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to do so for West End spectators in this exceptional production.

I find the thought of performing this show quite daunting as I anticipate it to be an immense task. However, I am prepared to put all my efforts into it, as I know it will demand the best from me.

As a lifestyle expert, I am elated to share that I will be stepping back into the West End, this time to direct my unique take on Bram Stoker’s timeless masterpiece, Dracula. I am equally excited about working alongside the exceptional Cynthia Erivo, who will undoubtedly breathe life into the memorable characters that have made this tale a beloved classic.

In our work, we delve deeper into Stoker’s theme of the struggle between fear and longing, providing a modern interpretation of the vampire as a creature that dwells not only outside us, but also within ourselves.

I’m thrilled to reconnect with several Dorian Gray team members for this upcoming venture, and it’s a tremendous honor to work alongside the exceptionally talented artist, Cynthia, who is the driving force behind it all.

I’m eagerly looking forward to unveiling this work to London spectators, particularly those in the West End, as it was a significant part of Bram’s creative existence where he spent a considerable amount of time.

Nine months back, during her promotional tour for Wicked, there were reports suggesting that Cynthia was offered a role.

In March, she went to the first showing of The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway, where it’s believed that she had a conversation with Sarah, who was performing.

Michael Cassel, who is jointly producing the West End run alongside Adam Kenwright, informed Deadline that Cynthia Erivo has primarily focused on conversing with Kip about the creative motivation and structure behind the production.

Connecting in such a manner holds significance for them, as it’s a production they collaborate on jointly.

The original Sydney production will not ‘be a blueprint’ for the West End version.

Michael also mentioned that Cynthia might find it intriguing to create her unique take on the role and collaborate with Kip in doing so.

During the non-musical West End production, fans of Wicked can look forward to hearing an original tune towards the end of the performance, composed by Clemence Williams.

You can purchase tickets for “DRACULA” a bit later this year. For more information about release dates and to join the waiting list, visit www.draculawestend.com.

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2025-05-13 19:12

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