DRACULA THE PANTO

 

 

This 'ISOSCELES' production opened at the Yvonne Arnaud Mill Studio in Guildford in June 2004; it has proved to be a highly energetic success and is hugely popular with all ages. Being a spoof on the Dracula story, done in panto style, there is definitely something for everyone. With just a cast of two playing all the parts, that gives a clue as to how light-hearted the show is; and there are some great songs too!

 

It is especially ideal for the winter months so book now to avoid disappointment and then you'll be able to say 'fangs' for the memory!!!

This show is ideally suited for the age group 8 to 80.

P.S. You really don't have to be accompanied by a child to have a great time at this show!!!

 

 

The show has already been seen at:

The Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton

Wilde Theatre, Bracknell

Yvonne Arnaud Mill Studio, Guildford

Belfast Opera House Baby Grand

The Riverside Theatre, Coleraine

Market Place Theatre, Armagh

Island Arts Centre, Lisburn

Dragon Theatre, Barmouth

Queens Theatre, Hornchurch

The Space Arts Centre, London

The Square Chapel, Halifax

Ifield Barn,Crawley

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness

Arts Guild, Greenock

Regal Theatre, Bathgate

Birnam Arts Centre, Dunkeld

North Edinburgh Arts Centre

Haddington Festival

Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen

The Old Courthouse, Antrim

Motherwell Civic Centre

Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey

Newry Arts Centre, N. Ireland

The Theatre, Newcastle, N. Ireland

Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy

Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock

Derry Playhouse

Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven

The Stables, Hastings

Norden Farm Arts Centre, Maidenhead

Sarah Thorne Theatre, Broadstairs

Palace Theatre, Halstead

Eccleshall School, Norfolk

Eastgate Theatre, Peebles

Maltings Theatre, Berwick

The Well Theatre, Moffat

Lochgelly Atrs Centre

Alloa Town Hall

Carlops Village Hall

Coldingham Theatre

Scottish Highlands Tour

Steppingley Village Hall

 

 

REVIEWS

Fun, fangs and other fab treats - a delight.

LONDON METRO

 

If you wanted to experience pure pantomime, with all the traditional audience participation, then you should have been here! We had puppet theatre, noises off, slapstick and a bewildering series of costume changes, all involving only two performers. We felt sorry for Count Dracula, consistently foiled by an audience wielding hot cross buns on a stick. However, it all ends happily, with the villans reformed and even the Count revising his diet to fit ecological guidlines and of course, everyone marrying everyone else! With slick interchanging of characters by Pat Abernethy, complete with classic stand-up gags, and Dave Marsden who played all the music and still managed to direct Pat's repartee, this was a real treat.

REDHILL ADVERTISER

 

You never can tell what may happen in the theatre. The presentation of DRACULA by Isosceles Productions at the Brewhouse was a remarkable example of high professional skills, witty writing and easy rapport between stage and audience possible when actors understand thier craft.

Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden expertly played this spoof version of the celebrated horror story as though it was - which it certainly was not - the easiest and most natural thing to do.They were never put off thier stroke either by constantly having to change characters; by unexpected interventions by some excited children thoroughly caught up in the 'oh yes it does, oh no it doesn't' atmosphere.

Pace, comic timing, and total commitment to the business in hand combined with a sense of humour enable them in effect to say, 'This is very silly of course, but it's really great fun, isn't it?'. Patrick Prior, the author, cleverly gave the actors their chances. Directed by Jim Dunk they took them in a style that could not have been bettered.

TAUNTON TIMES

 

He's behind you! And he's come to suck your blood. Bram Stoker's chilling gothic masterpiece has been transformed into a fast, furious and funny show. Dracula makes perfect pantomime fare. Things develop in typical pantomime style when Jonathan Harker and his fiancee Lucy are followed to Transylvania by Jonathan's mother, the Dame with her song sheet of spooky classics such as Bat Out Of Hell, Bad Moon Rising and In The Midnight Hour. Then the ubiquitous chase scene takes them over mountain pasture and frozen lake to England and back accomplished by some amazingly quick changes. All the parts are played by Isosceles duo Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden. This pastiche of Victorian high melodrama with the fond spoofing of traditional panto makes a warm, funny show, but it's Jonathan's hot-cross buns that save the day.

THE BIG ISSUE - CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

 

In relation to your recent visit to Newcastle to perform Dracula the Panto.. I would like to take the opportunity to express our sincere thanks for providing our audiences with a wonderful evening's entertainment, and hope that we work together again soon.

Rachel Kennedy, Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick

I had a lot of good feedback from the show. A couple of friends of mine said it was hilarious and that they hadn't laughed as much for a long time. They were still laughing about it on the way home so you made the people who attended very happy indeed.

Jan Wilson, Haddington Festival