There’s a certain boldness in deciding to stage Dracula in a week. In Swindon, they’re doing just that — and inviting locals to be part of it.
Swindon Theatres has announced the return of its Play In A Week project, with this year’s production taking on Dracula — a story that has lost none of its bite.
Open to anyone aged 16 and over, the project offers a rare chance to step into a working theatre environment and build a full production from scratch in the space of seven days. Auditions are set to take place at Swindon Arts Centre on Sunday 31 May.
For those unfamiliar, Play In A Week is less about polish and more about process. Participants rehearse intensively across a single week, working alongside theatre professionals before staging three performances at the end of it — a format that’s as demanding as it is rewarding.
This year’s choice of material leans into something darker. Based on Bram Stoker’s classic novel, the story follows Jonathan Harker’s ill-fated journey to Transylvania and his encounter with Count Dracula, before the tale shifts to England and the ripple effects of that meeting.
But organisers are keen to stress this won’t be a traditional retelling.
Creative Learning Manager Oli Webb said the production aims to strip the story back to something more immediate.
“This Dracula isn’t about monsters in the dark,” he said. “It’s about the darkness we politely ignore. It’s unsettling and deeply human.”
It’s a line that hints at a more intimate, perhaps less theatrical approach — one that focuses on character and atmosphere rather than spectacle.
The appeal of the project lies as much in its accessibility as its ambition. No long-term commitment, no lengthy rehearsal schedule — just a week of concentrated work for those curious about performance, whether seasoned or entirely new to it.
By the end of the week, the cast will have taken a familiar story and made it their own, performing it live on stage — a quick turnaround, but one that tends to leave a lasting impression.
Applications are now open, with further details available through Swindon Theatres. For those willing to take the plunge, it’s a chance to try something different — and perhaps discover a taste for the stage along the way.
