This remarkable dramatisation of part of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ is easily worthy of Edinburgh’s International Festival. With full production values, it is nevertheless put together with great economy and one of the biggest shocks comes at the curtain call. Blurring desire and fear, dreams and reality, the imagery is powerfully sensual. Though based on expert puppetry, this is far from a puppet show, with the difference between humans and puppets often magically blurred. This great stagecraft is brilliantly supported by superlatively good lighting. As for the narrative, for sure we have all the familiar gothic imagery, but this show manages to create its own uniquely strange and troubling world, taking the familiar tropes into a new place. Truly excellent.

Pleasance at EICC until 29 Aug.
tw rating 5/5 | [Alan Cranston]