The Highgate Vampire at Omnibus Theatre Review
Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
In a city that is nearly two thousand years old, there is certainly no shortage of spooky stories available. One of the more famous of these stories is the media hysteria around “The Highgate Vampire” in the late 60s that supposedly haunted Highgate Cemetery. Tales spread of a sinister figure shrouded in shadows who drained the lives of its victims with off deep red eyes and quickly led to a mob of amateur vampire hunters staking the bodies of all interred there in a moral panic.
Bag of Beard Theatre have taken the rich comedic and spooky fodder of this modern method to create a beautiful and hilarious dark comedy. Directed by Ryan Hutton and written and performed by Alexander Knott and James Demaine, this show explores the efforts of Bishop Patrick Sheffield (played by Knott) and Daniel Farringdon a psychic by night, but tobacconist by day, (played by Demaine) and their separate efforts to track the Highgate Vampire presented in an “evening lecture” format. Very much a comedic duo of opposites, their chemistry together is incredible as they relay the story in 70minutes.
We witness a whole plethora of material; interviews, witness accounts, investigations into ley lines and even an attempted seance to meet with the “unclean spirit”. However this is told to us in skits, silly songs, inventive costuming and audience participation. The biggest strength of this production is the chemistry between Knott and Demaine. Where Knott, is trying desperately to keep the show sensible, highly academic and restrained, Demaine is flamboyant, loud and uses song at every opportunity. Their bickering and gentle insults is hilarious and oddly sweet. I would be greatly interested in a series of adventures where these two characters investigate various modern myths of the world.
Although the central duo have chemistry worthy of Scooby Doo, I occasionally found myself equally invested in the unsung hero of the production: Audrey the technician, played by producer Zöe Grain. Grain adds a surprising amount of sincerity and earnest joy, grounding the show in moments that feel both warm and genuine. The plot meanders between different events and can feel loosely built at times but this also adds weight to the unconventional narrative of the show. It clearly has some inspiration from classic monster hunter literature including Dracula, Frankenstein and Scooby Doo but manages to give a unique and hilarious twist on this style.
The show very firmly balances both horror and comedy well and blends both to make a masterpiece of fringe theatre. It also beautifully encapsulates both the media induced hysteria and the well worn fabric of post war London, filled with memorable characters we’ve all encountered at some point. Samuel Heron’s sound design and music composition are excellent in adding a truly spooky and tense atmosphere to the show as well as immersing the audience further into the dark comedy throughout. Another production strength, noted to myself by several audience members, was how inclusive and supportive this production was to audience members with a variety of disabilities. They felt very supported and highly praised the team’s efforts to bring the show to life for them. Overall this was a darkly hilarious show and a great night out to give you some mild spooky vibes about your local area. If you enjoy hilarious casts, modern mysteries and folklore and a refreshingly silly show before Christmas then this is the show for you.
Playing until 30 December
★★★★★
