Dracula play will be bloody good time

What does Dracula, Elvis and Bedford Park have in common?

They are all making an appearance in the 2017 musical The Dracula Rock Show, to be performed in May at the Matamata Musical Theatre.

The play, written by UK playwright Malcolm Sircom, has been adapted by director Sharon Butterworth to bring to Matamata audiences.

She is seeking a large cast of actors, singers, and dancers aged between eight-to-14-yrs with show rehearsals not starting until the school term in February next year.

Butterworth says the musical has a very comical plot involving Dracula and his underworld community living beneath Matamata who have discovered an old TV, and through that begin to enjoy the world of humans.

‘‘This glimpse into the civilised world above unsettles them and they decide they want to come up and live with the humans,’’ she said.

Dracula surfaces in Bedford Park, with plans to form a rock n roll band which, of course, doesn’t go quite as planned.

The musical features many zany characters including Detective Holmes, Dr Watson, Moriarty and Quasimodo.

The music score is fantastic with hints of Elvis, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Abba, rock n’ roll and there is even a rap.

‘‘They are songs people will relate to. Maybe even a little bit of Gaga,’’ she said.

While Butterworth last directed a Malcolm Sircom Musical Olivia in 2012 with a mixed cast of children and adults, this time she wants the kids to feature.

‘‘I am a firm believer of how much confidence theatre gives them, and they need that in this world.

‘‘Everyone loves music. It doesn’t matter who they are, what they do or where they come from, it’s something we can all get together for and get joy out of.

‘‘I tell the kids, ‘your first venture onto the musical theatre stage, you will never forget’.’’

Despite having sets in the underworld, Butterworth says the play has a good message and is not designed to be scary.

‘‘It has something for the whole family.’’

Auditions will be held on December 14-15 at the Kea Street Theatre from 3pm - 5pm with a Pre-Audition interest day being held on Sunday, December 11. Contact Sharon 021 231 3281 or Lucinda 021 126 1926.