Erivo returns to tread the boards after a decade absence from the theatre world…
Producers Michael Cassel and Adam Kenwright recently confirmed that Sydney Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of Dracula, adapted and directed by Kip Williams, will premiere at London’s prestigious Noël Coward Theatre in February 2026. Cynthia Erivo will return to the stage for the first time in nearly a decade for the production, starring in this bold, one-actor reimagining of Bram Stoker’s classic gothic novel.
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.”
The production will begin performances on Wednesday 4 February 2026. Tickets will go on sale later in the year, with details and waitlist available at www.draculawestend.com.
Following the global release of Wicked: For Good last November — one of the most eagerly anticipated cinematic events of the decade — Erivo’s next move will be into rehearsals for Dracula. Her return to the stage marks a landmark moment in contemporary theatre: a rare opportunity for West End audiences to witness one of the world’s most extraordinary talents at the height of her powers, in a daring and intimate performance unlike anything she has undertaken before.
In this radical interpretation, Erivo will embody all twenty-three characters in Stoker’s iconic tale — from the naïve solicitor Jonathan Harker and his fiancée Mina Murray to confidante Lucy Westenra, her suitors, and the formidable vampire hunter Van Helsing — as well as the infamous Count Dracula themself.
Erivo most recently drew international acclaim for her performance as Elphaba in Universal Pictures’ Wicked, her work recognised with a series of major award nominations, including an Academy Award® nomination for Best Actress, a Golden Globe® nomination, a BAFTA® nomination, and recognition from the Screen Actors Guild Awards® and Critics’ Choice Awards.
She recently announced her second studio album, ‘I Forgive You‘, and is currently in production on Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Children of Blood and Bone with Viola Davis, Idris Elba and Amandla Stenberg. This spring, she will be seen in the hit Peacock series Poker Face.
In his adaptation of Dracula, Kip Williams delves into the enduring metaphorical power of the story, crafting a bold retelling that reorients the narrative around a psychological battle between fear and desire.
Through a transformative solo performance, the production blurs the boundaries between self and other, suggesting that the monster is perhaps not external, but something that stirs within. First staged by Sydney Theatre Company in 2024, the production captivated audiences with its startingly original reimagining of Stoker’s iconic vampire tale, offering a haunting meditation on the aspects of ourselves we fear, desire, and deny.
