In celebration of the 126th anniversary of the publication of Dracula, Brother Wolf is proud to present Dracula’s Guest, an all-new interpretation based on the works of Bram Stoker. Adapted and directed by acclaimed actor/writer/producer/director, James Hyland, this multi award-winning production takes you into the dark heart of Victorian horror to reveal the very meaning of terror and the consequences of collective evil and personal spite. Dracula’s Guest is Brother Wolf’s 12th production to date and is preceded by a catalogue of celebrated works including A Christmas Carol – As told by Jacob Marley (deceased), the “definitive telling of A Christmas Carol” (Redditch Standard), winner of Best Performer in Theatre (Fringe Report Awards, 2012); Fagin’s Last Hour, “a masterclass in character acting” (British Theatre Guide), winner of an OffComm Commendation (Off West Awards, 2023); Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, “One of the most mesmerising and terrifying performances you’ll ever see” (The Sheerness Times Guardian), winner of Best Male Act (Solo Fest, 2013); A Lesson from Auschwitz, “a majestic statement of the power of theatre” (Plays To See), commended by The Foundation of Memory Sites Near Auschwitz-Birkenau; and Silver & Gold, “a portrayal of Silver to delight and surprise… excellent” (Virginia Betts Reviews).

Praise for “Dracula’s Guest”:

WINNER: THE HAMILTON DEANE AWARD (The Dracula Society, 2022) WINNER: OFFCOMM COMMENDATION (Off West End Awards, 2022)

“NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART… though that is what makes it so wonderful.”

Rating: ★★★★★
~Kashmini Shah, Voice Magazine

“POWERFUL… extraordinarily violent… go see it while you can.”

Rating: ★★★★★
~Simon’s Horrible Hothouse of Horror

“Hyland commands and dominates the stage… BREATHTAKING… POWERFUL”

Rating: ★★★★★
~Elaine Chapman, Theatre, Films and Art Reviews

“THE GODFATHER of vampire adaptations… UNIQUE, POWERFUL… UNMISSABLE”

Rating: ★★★★★
~Mark Carter, British Theatre Journal

“Remarkably INTENSE… true to Victorian gothic horror”

Rating: ★★★★★
~Eloise Lonsdale, OX Magazine

“a very well-written and acted piece which holds the attention throughout”

Rating: ★★★★★
~Martin Dowsing, The Audience Club

“MAGNIFICENT and TERRIFYING… masterly… horrifyingly realistic”

~Susan Elkin, Sardines Magazine

“HORRIFIC but MESMERISING… brilliantly clever, albeit disturbing”

~Riana Howarth, North West End UK

“PLENTY of SURPRISES, and some clever effects… We really enjoyed it.”

~Des Bradley, Voices from the Vaults

“WILDLY VICIOUS… truly terrifying… thoroughly enjoyable… Heartily recommended!”

~ScareTOUR

“THE MOST INTENSE 55 minutes of drama you’re ever likely to encounter.”

~Julia Kruk, The Dracula Society

“GUARANTEED to shock you out of your seat and give you nightmares for weeks.”

~Peter Fuller, Vincent Price Legacy UK

JAMES HYLAND

Actor | Adapter | Producer | Director

James Hyland is Artistic Director and Founder of Brother Wolf. He is also a multi award- winning stage and film actor as well as a critically acclaimed writer, producer and director. James’ work has been described by the press as “magnificent” (Plays to See), “highly accomplished” (The Stage) and “astonishing” (The Courier). To date, he has received more than 160 outstanding reviews as well as over 300 audience testimonials for his ground- breaking performances. Following his education at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance, he made his professional acting debut in The North Pole, winning the Guardian International Student Drama Award in 1996. Since then he has appeared in over 70 professional productions, working with a variety of directors including Michael Boyd, Adrian Noble and Matthew Warchus, as well as acclaimed companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and Brother Wolf Productions, winning a further 38 awards including Best Performance of the Year (The Actors Awards LA, 2022) for his performance as Mr Guthrert Vratrol/Narrator in the film The Impatient Man Who Made His Life Considerably Shorter, The Hamilton Deane Award (The Dracula Society, 2022) for his performance as Dracula in Dracula’s Guest as well as an OffComm Commendation (Off West End Awards, 2022) for the same production, an OffComm Commendation (Off West End Awards, 2023) for his stage production of Fagin’s Last Hour, and Best Performer in Theatre (Fringe Report Awards, 2012) for his solo performance as Marley’s Ghost in A Christmas Carol – As told by Jacob Marley (deceased) as well as a nomination for The London Theatre Award (London Awards for Art and Performance 2012) for the same role in competition with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical. John Park, Director of the Fringe Report Awards, said “The award celebrates the work of James Hyland, actor, and in particular his creation and delivery of A Christmas Carol – As told by Jacob Marley (deceased). It reflects his fine work as an actor in film, TV, radio and theatre in a remarkable range of productions.” In the same year, further honours were bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in recognition of Dickensian Scholarship. By 2014, A Christmas Carol – As told by Jacob Marley (deceased) had been officially rated as one of “the top Christmas shows in London, Edinburgh and around the UK” (High 50 Culture). The show’s unique presentation has even been discussed in best- selling books about the theatre. In 2018, during the 175th anniversary of Dickens’ original novella, James performed his award-winning show at The Royal Albert Hall, selling out to capacity. The production was followed by two more award-winning one-man shows: Fagin’s Last Hour in 2011 (Top Off West End Production – Centre Stage Stars 2018) and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in 2013 (Best Male Act – Solo Festival 2013). James serves as actor, adapter and producer on all three productions. The shows have toured extensively, breaking box office records along the way, as well as his 5-star commemorative drama A Lesson from Auschwitz, of which he is the writer, director, producer and co-actor (commended by The Foundation of Memory Sites Near Auschwitz-Birkenau), reviewed as “one of the most powerful and most important pieces of theatre I’ve ever seen” (Centre Stage). As well as touring A Lesson from Auschwitz and other acclaimed shows, his multi award-winning production of Dracula’s Guest will continue as well as his very latest one-man show Silver & Gold (based on Treasure Island) and the official launch of Uncle Jimmy (a new short film). Screen credits include We Are Monster, nominated for The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film (Edinburgh Festival, 2014) and the multi award-winning music videos/short films from Kaskade and Tinie Tempah in which James plays the lead roles: A Little More and Disappoint You, again serving as writer (and improviser) of the dialogue; and also the 12-time award-winning film Transmission in which James plays the lead role of Dr Sam, selected for more than ninety festivals worldwide including The Fisheye Film Festival, The Horrible Imaginings Film Festival and Torino Underground Cinefest for which James received three Best Actor nominations. James can currently be seen in The Impatient Man Who Made His Life Considerably Shorter in which he plays the dual lead roles of Mr Guthrert Vratrol and the Voiceover Narrator for which he recently won 30 international Best Actor awards including Best Performance of the Year at The Actors Awards Los Angeles, the Made You Laugh BBC Comedy Award at The World Cinema Film Festival and Best Actor at The APEX Film Awards at which his performance was reviewed as “absolutely hilarious and played to perfection.” To date, James has appeared in nine multi award-winning films.

ASHTON SPEAR

Actor

A graduate from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) with a Masters Distinction in Performing Arts, Ashton is a Canadian born actor residing in the United Kingdom. Since graduating he has worked extensively in theatre, film and television. He has starred in several short films, several of which have been multiple award winners on the festival circuit. Screen credits include Locked Up Abroad, Dearly Departed, Still Young, 999 Killer on the Line and The Haunting of Margam Castle. Ashton most recently starred as Edward VIII in the 4- star production of Falling in Love Again at The King’s Head Theatre where his performance was described as “masterful” (The Review Chap). His other stage credits include The King in Yellow at The Lion and Unicorn, Boudica at The Barn Theatre and The Frontier Trilogy at The Hen and Chickens. Ashton has also begun training in voice over and motion capture performance. He has recently lent his voice to the short film Joy Ride as well as a number of audio dramas including X-Men: The New Mutants and an adaptation of The Nurse’s Tale.

CHRIS WARNER

Music

Chris Warner is a composer, sound designer, musical arranger and orchestrator whose range of work covers theatre, television and film. Other Brother Wolf credits include: The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, A Lesson From Auschwitz, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Fagin’s Last Hour, A Christmas Carol – As told by Jacob Marley (deceased), Dracula’s Guest. Recent composing and sound design credits include: Blue Stockings, Sadie (Lyric Belfast, BBC4), Booming Voices, From Rushmere With Love, The Tide Jetty (Eastern Angles), ART (East Riding Theatre), Archie in Manhattan (Grand Opera House, Belfast), Macbeth (RSC Associated Schools). As an arranger, orchestrator and producer, recent credits include The Ipcress File (ITV), The Mauritanian (BBC Films, 30West), The Rise of the Tudors (Sky History), The Merry Wives of Windsor (The Royal Shakespeare Company). As a composer for TV and Film Chris is published by Audio Network, producing original music that is featured extensively in TV, Film and Advertising in this country and around the world. Recent collaborations include an album with percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson.

Listings Information

Synopsis

Dracula. An ancient creature, embittered by the burden of immortality and the intolerance of those who would decry him monster. Alone in his keep, but for the memories of centuries past. A living death that only a vampire could understand. Or perhaps a special guest or two.

Providing they can live long enough to survive their host’s unique hospitality and his deliberate attempts to drive them insane.

Dates:

OCT 24 @ 7.30pm
AMMANFORD – THE MINERS’ THEATRE 11A Wind Street, Ammanford, SA18 3DN 0345 2263510 www.theatrausirgar.co.uk

Recommended for: Ages 12+

This category is recommended when the material is suitable only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at this category may upset children under 12 or contain material (including scenes of a violent and bloody nature) which many parents will find unsuitable for them. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view the work lies with

the accompanying adult.

Cast and creative team:

Actor/Writer/Producer/Director: James Hyland Actor: Ashton Spear
Composer: Chris Warner

For further details please contact:

James Hyland, Artistic Director
BROTHER WOLF
mobile: +44 (0)7708 626477
email: jameshylanduk@gmail.com
website: www.brotherwolf.org.uk
Brother Wolf on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JamesHylandUK
Brother Wolf on Facebook: www.facebook.com/brotherwolfproductions