QPAC

A decade after it first captivated audiences around the country, the acclaimed production returns to the Australian stage in a co-presentation with Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Shake & Stir Theatre Co is resurrecting its smash-hit adaptation of DRACULA for a strictly limited season at the QPAC Playhouse from 27 October 2026.

A critical sensation on its 2015 premiere, DRACULA sold out two seasons at QPAC before embarking on a major 40+ venue tour that visited every state and territory in the country - cementing its place as one of Australia's most beloved theatrical thrillers. Over the past decade it has become something of a cult phenomenon, with audiences continuing to ask one question: When is Dracula rising from the dead? 

Combining gothic horror, breathtaking stagecraft and Shake & Stir's trademark theatrical ingenuity, this electrifying production returns for a new generation of audiences - and for the thousands who have been waiting to experience it again.

Based on Bram Stoker's immortal novel, DRACULA follows young solicitor Jonathan Harker, who travels deep into the Carpathian Mountains to meet the enigmatic Count Dracula. But what begins as a routine business transaction soon descends into terror as Harker uncovers a creature driven by an insatiable thirst for blood. Escaping the Count's castle, Harker unwittingly unleashes Dracula upon Victorian London, setting in motion a deadly battle between desire, obsession and humanity's oldest fears.

Directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Michael Futcher, and adapted by Shake & Stir Artistic Directors Nelle Lee and Nick Skubij, with fellow Artistic Director Ross Balbuziente serving as Creative Producer, the production remains one of the company's defining works.

Ross Balbuziente says the decision to revive DRACULA was an easy one.

"As we celebrate 20 years of Shake & Stir, we kept coming back to one production. DRACULA has taken on a life of its own. It sold out seasons, toured the country, won awards and, even ten years later, audiences still ask us when it's coming back.

"This isn't simply a revival. It's an opportunity to introduce one of our most iconic productions to an entirely new audience, while giving long-time fans the chance to experience it again. Great stories endure, and DRACULA has never felt more relevant."

Co-adaptor Nick Skubij says the world's fascination with vampires has only grown stronger.

"Vampires have endured for more than a century because they constantly evolve. Every generation rediscovers Dracula, finding something new in the story, whether it's horror, romance, power, temptation or the fear of the unknown.

"Our production embraces everything audiences love about gothic horror while delivering the kind of visceral theatrical experience that simply can't be replicated on a screen. It's thrilling, cinematic, funny, terrifying and completely immersive."

Widely regarded as one of Shake & Stir's signature productions, DRACULA combines stunning visual design, inventive stagecraft, pulse-raising suspense and unforgettable performances to deliver a theatrical event that is as exhilarating today as it was when it first took audiences by storm.