Cynthia Erivo Dracula Review: One Woman, 23 Roles

Wondering if Dracula is worth adding to your London theatre list? Here’s my honest take after an evening at Noël Coward Theatre—watching Cynthia Erivo take on 23 characters in one of the West End’s boldest shows yet.

Cynthia Erivo in Dracula: An Honest Review

A one-woman Dracula already sounds ambitious enough. Add Cynthia Erivo carrying 23 separate roles, accents and costumes across one singular evening, and the immediate question becomes: can this even be done?

I went solo, paid a handsome sum, and sat second row to see for myself.

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Background: Kip Williams, Live Cameras and a Very Different Dracula

This new version of Dracula is directed by Kip Williams, whose work fellow theatre-goers may already know from The Picture of Dorian Gray—another production built around one actor, live cameras and constant transformation of characters. The same style appears here, but with a more well-known story and much, stranger approach.

Almost as soon as the show begins, it becomes clear this is not a traditional period-piece Dracula (far from it).

Camera operators move around the stage throughout, filming Cynthia Erivo live while huge close-ups appear overhead, often alongside pre-recorded versions of herself already in another role. At times she’s speaking live in front of you while another version of her is answering back from the screen. It pulls you in almost instantly and keeps you there til the end.

Where to See Dracula & Getting to Noël Coward Theatre

Dracula is currently running at Noël Coward Theatre, right in the middle of the West End on St Martin’s Lane.

If you know central London well, it’s one of those theatres that makes it very easy to combine with a jaunt in Covent Garden—from a pre-show dinner to a post-show city walk.

The nearest tube stations are Covent Garden, Leicester Square or Charing Cross, all around a 5-minute walk to the theatre.

Getting Tickets to Dracula

Like most West End productions led by a major name, ticket prices will vary wildly depending on where you sit and when you book.

Official tickets start at around £30, but closer seats quickly move well into three figures, with many central stalls seats sitting between roughly £100 and £225 depending on the night. See tickets here.

(I paid £150 for a Monday evening seat in the second row.)

Honest Thoughts: Cynthia Erivo Dracula Review

The strongest thing I can say is that I have rarely felt so engaged in a theatre performance from beginning to end.

For all the technical complexity happening around her—live cameras, screens, costume shifts, pre-recorded versions of herself appearing mid-scene—the storytelling itself and Cynthia always stayed sharp (and all the crew on stage with her were equally as impressive).

What surprised me most was how complete and present she was in each character and how real and individual each one of them truly felt—even if they were only there for moments at a time.

If there’s anything that may divide opinion, it’s that Kip Williams’ camera-heavy style asks quite a lot of your attention early on. There is so much happening visually that the first few minutes require a small adjustment.

More than anything, what stayed with me afterwards was how calm Cynthia Erivo seemed inside something that could easily have felt chaotic in less capable hands—even with one brief line slip, her recovery was so smooth I left even more impressed.

By the end, it felt less like watching an actress handle a difficult performance well and more like watching someone operate at a level very few people can.

Final Thoughts: Is Dracula Worth Seeing?

Quite simply, yes, and not lightly.

This was one of the best performances I have seen in my life, and certainly one of the most memorable I’ve watched on a London stage in recent years.

If you’re someone who enjoys theatre that takes risks, asks a little more of your attention, and leaves you thinking about how on earth one person held all of that together, Dracula is absolutely worth booking.

That said, if you prefer traditional staging or a slower visual rhythm, Kip Williams’ style may not be for everyone. The camera work, screens and constant movement ask you to settle into its language quite quickly. But once it clicks, it becomes very hard to look away.

For all the innovation around her, what remains with you is the iconic Cynthia Erivo herself—and the rare feeling of watching someone do something live that very few people could.

Thanks for reading my Cynthia Erivo Dracula Review. If you end up going, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the show on Instagram!

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