Cynthia Erivo to play Dracula and 22 supporting roles in West End debut of STC show
Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo will return to the stage for the first time in nearly a decade, taking on the roles of Dracula, Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker and 20 other Bram Stoker characters in Dracula on the West End.
Originally directed and adapted by Kip Williams for the Sydney Theatre Company (where it premiered in 2024 and starred Zahra Newman), Dracula is co-produced by the Michael Cassel Group and will make its international debut in February 2026.
Williams and Cassel are the Australian creators of the West End and Broadway hit The Picture of Dorian Gray, starring Sarah Snook, which won two Olivier Awards last year and this month received six Tony award nominations. The pair will be looking to recreate the success of that show, in which Snook plays all 26 roles, with Erivo.
'If you look at the landscape of the West End, you need a star-driven vehicle, which is what led us to Sarah for Dorian and Cynthia for Dracula,' says Cassel. 'I went and saw Dracula in Sydney, and at the end of it I knew it had commercial appeal, and the only name in my head was Cynthia Erivo.'
A Tony, Emmy and Grammy award winner, Erivo was last on stage in 2016's The Colour Purple (for which she won a Tony award). But it was her role as Elphaba in 2024's Wicked, alongside Ariana Grande, that catapulted her to a new level of stardom with an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
'We approached Cynthia before Wicked came out, and she was the only person we approached,' says Cassel. 'So we were watching Wicked become this huge deal with a mix of excitement and fear.'
Following the announcement, Erivo said: 'Returning to the stage feels like a homecoming, one that I've been craving for a long time. 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. This show will ask everything of me — and I'm ready to give it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AU Financial Review
an hour ago
- AU Financial Review
The STC put $500,000 into Dorian Gray. It paid off
The international success of Sydney Theatre Company's The Picture Of Dorian Gray helped it to the highest revenue in its 45-year history in 2024, despite a boycott from some donors slashing philanthropic proceeds by one-third. The Walsh Bay-based company's overall revenue of $45.7 million included a 37 per cent surge in operational revenue to $37.7 million in 2024, which includes a royalty payment from Sydney's Michael Cassel Group for the rights to the Oscar Wilde adaptation.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Pop superstar Katy Perry spotted in local designer ‘onesie'
It is not uncommon to spot a onesie-wearing Australian in the colder months down under but an American superstar has joined in the trend while on tour. Snapped at Luna Park in Sydney, pop superstar Katy Perry was seen in an Aussie designer's fluffy offering looking calm, collected and super comfy. The showbiz queen clearly has good taste as the onesie was from none other than Australian sleepwear king Peter Alexander's collection. So chuffed was the designer he shared the pic on his official Instagram account. There's a bear in there… And it's Katy Perry! Credit: MEDIA-MODE / JaydenSeyfarth/ While a large portion of Australians go to bed wrapped in Alexander's sleepwear, it is nice to know he has an international following too. The fluffy bear onesie appears to be a popular choice and is sold out online with some children's sizes available. The adorable snap also captured Perry holding the hand of her daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom, whose father is Hollywood superstar Orlando Bloom — Perry's partner since 2016. Days after the Californian diva had a security scare when an audience member charged the stage at her sold-out Qudos Bank Arena show in Sydney, news has surfaced that the A-list couple's relationship may be on the rocks. The couple are contending with rumours of a potential split following Daily Mail reports Perry was spotted without her wedding ring on the tour and following tensions created around the flop of her 2024 album 143. 'Orlando and I, when we argue, we argue kinda hot and fast and then cool really quickly. It's like, 'La la la la la, I love you. Alright, let's move on,'' the pop superstar previously said in 2024. She also mentioned the impact that their domestic blow-ups had on their four-year-old daughter Daisy. 'We are fire, fire, fire, and so [Daisy] sees all of that,' Ms Perry said. 'He's a real sage. We both have parts of ourselves. There's two parts of us, our highest good, and then our carnal, material self. Ego. When the ego is running the show, then it's like, 'Whoa.' But when that's in check, then we're both something else.'' Mr Bloom, who is in New York for the Tribeca Film Festival, has spoken previously about the challenging moments in their partnership. 'Sometimes things are really, really, really, challenging. I won't lie. We definitely battle with our emotions and creativity.' Perry is currently in Melbourne before her tour heads to Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Herald Sun
an hour ago
- Herald Sun
Channel 7's Abbey Holmes welcomes first baby, shares brutal birth ordeal
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Channel 7 AFL presenter Abbey Holmes and her husband Keegan Brooksby have welcomed their first baby together, a son named Braxton. The pair shared the news on Instagram, revealing that the birth did not go exactly according to plan. 'Mummy laboured all day on Friday, only for me to be born via c section at 5:49pm on 6/6 weighing 3.585kg's,' the caption read. 'My head was faaaar too large so we had to change our plans late in the piece!' The couple's well-known friends were quick to offer celebratory messages under the birth announcement. 'Cool dude joining a cool crew,' wrote Australian comedian Dave Hughes. 'Congrats,' wrote radio presenter and AFL great Brendan Fevola. Josh Daicos' partner Annaliese Dalins commented: 'Adorable — congratulations sweetheart xx sending you and your beautiful family lots of love.' Seven News' chief sports presenter Rebecca Maddern posted: 'Oh Abbey I've been waiting for this news! He's just perfect! Enjoy the love bubble - rest up.' Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac added: 'Glorious!!! So happy for you guys.' The Instagram post shows photos of the newborn in a blue onesie and beanie, next to a toy bunny with the words, 'my first bunny.' The post also shows a smiling selfie of the new parents carrying their newborn. The former AFWL star turned Channel 7 announced her pregnancy in January, saying her and her husband Keegan Brooksby were 'on cloud nine'. 'Keegan and I have shared a very busy year, but 2025 is set to be our biggest and best yet. We could not be happier to welcome our first child into the world, later this year,' Holmes told The Herald Sun. Holmes made the discovery she was pregnant after incredibly running the New York Marathon in November, with the news coming as a total surprise. 'We are so excited and grateful to be in this position, as we know how difficult it can be for so many people. We're on cloud nine and can't wait for this next chapter.' 'We discovered that I was pregnant a few weeks after returning home from running the New York Marathon,' Holmes continued. 'As you can imagine, it was a bit of a shock given what I had just put my body through, but I'm in awe of what the human body can do. 'Keegan and I told our families at Christmas, which was a really special time for us all. We wanted to share our news with as many people as possible in person, so we've spent the last few weeks doing that. There were plenty of tears, that's for sure. 'I've been lucky enough to enjoy a beautiful start to my pregnancy, and we're soaking up every moment.' The 33-year-old was an inaugural member of the Adelaide Crows' AFLW team and since hanging up the boots, has been a key part of Seven's AFL and AFLW commentary team. As well as being a beloved commentator, Holmes has also appeared on reality TV shows Survivor and SAS Australia. Her partner, Brooksby, is also a former AFL player. He joined Gold Coast via the 2015 rookie draft and played 14 games in his three seasons at the club. He spent one year at West Coast in 2019, where he didn't manage to make an appearance, before playing one more AFL game at Hawthorn. The couple have been together since 2017 after matching on a dating app. Brooksby popped the question in Uluru in 2020 before the pair tied the knot in 2023. Originally published as Channel 7's Abbey Holmes welcomes first baby, shares brutal birth ordeal
