After capturing the moment on screen in Wicked‘s world of magic and broomsticks, it seems that Cynthia Erivo is now out for blood… through taking the role of the infamous Count Dracula. In a new stage adaptation of Bram Stoker’s gothic novel, the actress will portray the vampire and all 22 other roles – from Mina to Van Helsing – in the one-woman West End performance.
Dracula kicks off at the Noël Coward Theatre in February 2026, and the team behind it are the same as those behind the fellow adaptation of The Picture Of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook, also a one-woman play. Kip Williams is at the helm for directing duties of the play, which comes after the original premiere in Australia by the Sydney Theatre Company.
Much like in Dorian Gray, it features the use of video recordings to consume viewers in the all-encompassing performance of Erivo, and the style of these is said to take inspiration from early horror movies. It is not a musical, but there will also be one original song performed at the end of the play by composer Clemence Williams and showcasing Erivo’s vocals once again.
Speaking on the news, Cynthia Erivo said: “Returning to the stage feels like a homecoming, one that I’ve been craving for a long time. To do so with a story as rich, complex, and haunting as DRACULA offers a beautiful opportunity to delve into character, into myth, and into the heart of what makes us human.
“From the moment I was asked, I could not get the role out of my mind. Kip’s vision is thrilling, terrifying, and deeply resonant, offering a chance to sit with not only the darkness in the world, but also the light we fight to hold onto. It’s a rare gift for an actor to inhabit so many voices and perspectives in one piece, and I’m honoured to do it for West End audiences in this extraordinary production. The prospect of doing this show scares me and I know it will be a huge challenge. This show will ask everything of me — and I’m ready to give it.”
Dracula kicks off at the Noël Coward Theatre in February 2026, with tickets going on sale later this year. You can find more information and sign up to the waitlist here.