Count Dykula continues at Ace Dome at Pleasance Dome until 25 August 2025.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
This is Airlock Theatre’s third “big queer music extravaganza” (here in conjunction with Soho Theatre) and it’s a hoot.
Dykula (magnificently played by Rosanna Suppa) immediately proclaims the flavour of the show in the opening line: “Count Dykula is at best a mouthful, and at worst a slur.”
Dykula is a butch lesbian vampire. She’s sort of okay with her life; has her own castle, preys on shoppers behind the local Asda, but they’re not as scared as they used to be. To improve her shocking skills she enlists in Scare University, but the university’s principal, the ever-so-busty Scarlett Fang (Eleanor Colville) decrees that monsters should adjust to a more human perspective (by adopting sexy girlie looks etc), and bans bona fide monsters – there are contemporary parallels if you choose to see them. The Count’s borrowed blood boils. Monsters should embrace their monsterdom and be themselves. And so begins a quest to topple Fang’s regime.
It’s a riot, with spatterings of panto, asides to the audience and plenty of wit. It’s a surprise to realise that there are only three actors (four if you include the ghost hand puppet wielded by Robbie Taylor Hunt (who also directs). Roles are changed in a flash. There’s even a pantomime dragon.
It’s very much a group affair, written and composed by the three actors and Erin Rydal and Simon McKenzie, who are also responsible for the orchestrations and musical direction. The songs and vocals are great. There is one pastiche, but let that go. Credit also to Anna Short’s sound design, Caitlin Mawhinney’s costumes, Catja Hamilton’s lighting and Myron Birch’s choreography.
It is a little bit rough around the edges, but that’s part of its charm. The plot wobbles a bit in the resolution, but who cares? It’s all great fun.
James Bryce
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