A new theatrical production in London is bringing one of the city's most bizarre supernatural legends hilariously back to life. The Highgate Vampire, playing at the Omnibus theatre in Clapham, transforms the rumoured paranormal events that captivated north London in the late 1960s and early 1970s into a charming and comedic hour-long show.
Stranger Than Fiction: The Real-Life Hammer Horror
The play is rooted in genuinely strange historical events. For several years around Highgate Cemetery, numerous reports surfaced of a vampire terrorising the area. The ensuing frenzy involved alleged sightings, exorcisms, and even illicit excavations of graves, with the local police eventually becoming involved.
This real-world drama attracted two rival vampire hunters: David Farrant and Sean Manchester. Rather than collaborating, they engaged in a bitter feud, each attempting to discredit the other while claiming the honour of defeating the undead menace. Their rivalry reportedly inspired the classic Hammer horror film Dracula AD 1972, starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.
A Meta-Theatrical Lecture Turned Rivalry
Writers and performers Alexander Knott and James Demain have cleverly structured their play as a contested lecture. Knott portrays the bishop, Patrick Sheffield, while Demain plays the tobacconist-vampire hunter, Daniel Farringdon. The duo constantly wrestles for control of the narrative, stopping and starting as they disagree on the facts.
They are joined on stage by technician Audrey, played by Zöe Grain, who also serves as the show's projection designer and producer. Audrey adds creepy sound effects at key moments—courtesy of sound designer Samuel Heron—and even joins in a musical number with a maraca.
Under Ryan Hutton's direction, the production moves at a brisk, sketch-like pace. The two leads comically transform into various eyewitnesses, delivering witty lines, including some about Karl Marx, who is famously interred at Highgate Cemetery.
Charming But Could Be Sharper
The show is performed with undeniable charm and generates consistent laughs. However, the review suggests it could afford to be both sharper and scarier. Moments of genuine goosebumps are present, such as the chilling testimony of a teenage girl held in a trance by a red-eyed entity, but these are somewhat sparse amidst the breezy comedy.
Despite this, it stands as a highly amusing alternative to a traditional Christmas ghost story, made all the more engaging by its incredible, fact-based origins. It leaves one wondering if a promenade, site-specific version in Highgate itself might unlock an even creepier potential.
The Highgate Vampire runs at the Omnibus theatre in London until 30 December 2023. It will then transfer to The Cockpit in London, where it will play from 28 January to 1 February 2024.
