Part of my current work is on the Dracula Returns to Derby project, where we’re conducting research and running an events programme to mark the 100th anniversary of the show’s stage premiere at the Grand Theatre in Derby. As such, the character has been largely on my mind – and part of my involvement has been exploring the many adaptations of the character and the story created by Bram Stoker back in 1897, which has turned up any number of interesting results.
Since the very first movie adaptation in 1921 – the now-lost silent movie – Dracula has been through more than 1,000 different adaptations, some of which have aimed to stick close to the spirit and plot of the original, and many of which have transported the character to other settings entirely. The fact is that more than 125 years since he first appeared on the page, Dracula is an enduring and popular fictional figure – and if you want to create your own stories featuring