The Show
Our new show Sin & Tonic is a lush vampire cabaret, with Berlin Burlesque, mischievous comedy skits, carnival style novelty acts and a punchy song list. It is Dracula’s most daring production, with a strong vampire theme and hand picked cast, all brought together to celebrate our 30th year.
A scintillating experience for those amongst us with a voracious appetite for lush vampire cabaret, laced with vaudevillian humour and spanky live music.
Sin & Tonic is a swizzling mix of Berlin Burlesque, mischievous comedy skits and carnival style novelty acts, all set to a punchy song list. In this break away from Dracula’s usual tanned glam show, SIN & TONIC offers a decidedly darker molotov cocktail of unexpected variety acts.
Dracula’s talented androgenous vampire cast have literally leapt out of the closet to bare their fangs in a fast-paced production that will leave your lips pursed and your pants twitching. Expect big hair, pale skin, black nails and homicidal dance routines, set to sustained rock chords and neurotic drumming.
The show contains adult themes and some coarse language. As such, we have a recommended age of 16+.
"If you like flashy, noisy and kitsch, sink your fangs into this" - Kate Herbert, Theatre Reviewer, The Herald Sun
Tickets
A Reserve
Experience Dracula's as only a vampire can! VIP tickets include a Ghost Train ride, three course meal and Comedy Variety Show. Also included is Premium Seating, Priority Entrance Queue, VIP Gift Bag, Dracula's VIP Necklace, Gourmet Finger Food, a complimentary glass of Champagne and complimentary Tea and Coffee.
Arrival Time: 6:30pm
Tickets from $95 per person
B Reserve
Standard ticket for the full Dracula's experience. Tickets include a Ghost Train ride, three course meal and Comedy Variety Show.
Arrival Time: 6:45pm
Tickets from $76 per person
Photos & Videos
The Cast of Sin & Tonic
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Chris Buchanan
Lead Male Vocalist
Emerging as one of Melbourne's brightest new talents, Chris is quickly making a name for himself as a versatile performer. Having grown up in live theatre as both a singer and actor, Chris has performed in over 20 musical theatre productions and nearly as many plays.
Chris' current credits include I Can't Believe It's Not Countdown, Eddie in the Australian production of MAMMA MIA, and he even received Victoria Theatre Guild Award nominations for many of his performances including Pippin, Barnum, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Blood Brothers.
Dracula's is proud to welcome Chris to the theatre of the vampire for his first season with us. -
Josh Celata
Lead Guitarist, Vocals
Josh Celata brings his electrifying guitar talent to the stage, wowing audiences every night with his rock riffs, big vocals and dashing good looks.
After being awarded a scholarship, Josh graduated with an Advanced Diploma of Music (Jazz/Performance) from the Academy of Music in Box Hill, Victoria. When he's not performing with us at Dracula's, you can catch Josh playing in rock band THE TEXAS TOMBSTONES or acoustic ensemble KISSING THE EXPRESS TRAIN.
Sin & Tonic is Josh's second production here at Dracula's.
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Ash Flanders
Lead Male Vocalist, Comedian
Ash Flanders graduated from the Ballarat Arts Academy (formerly BAPA) in 2002. For the next two years, he toured Australia with theatre-in-education company Brainstorm Productions (2003-4). In 2005, Ash performed as part of the Comedy Festival, and was introduced to future partner-in-grime, Declan Greene. The pair immediately formed their queer DIY production company Sisters Grimm, and Ash has since co-written, produced and starred in FAT CAMP (2006), BUMTOWN (2007), CELLBLOCK BOOTY (2008), LITTLE MERCY (2010) and MOMMIE & THE MINISTER (2007-8), which toured to both Adelaide and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.
In 2007, Ash performed Adam Cass’ one-man play, I LOVE YOU, BRO which then enjoyed seasons at The Malthouse, the famous Speigeltent, London’s Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe and the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, where Ash was nominated for Best Male Actor.
Ash has also starred in various short films, music videos, fronted cheesy bands and made people giggle so hard that their drink comes out of their nose.
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Philippa Harrison
Choreographer, Dancer, Lead Female Vocalist
Hailing from the UK, Philippa Harrison has worked extensively in theatre and dancewear modelling. Her theatre credits include SCROOGE - THE MUSICAL and the principal role of Polly Browne in THE BOYFRIEND. Philippa has performed in many British pantomimes including CINDERELLA, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS and PUSS IN BOOTS, and has modelled for leading dance media such as DANCEFORCE and THE GIFTED DANCER.
A full academic and practical scholarship saw Philippa complete her BA (Hons) in Dance and Theatre Performance in 2004, after which she spent the next eighteen months cruising around the world on the PACIFIC PRINCESS and TAHITIAN PRINCESS for both P&O and Princess Cruises.
Philippa emigrated from England to Australia in 2006, and was soon entertaining crowds as a front-woman for some of Melbourne’s leading cover bands.
Philippa is the choreographer for both Melbourne and Gold Coast venues and is enjoying her fourth season as lead female vocalist at Dracula’s Melbourne.
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Darren Hulcombe
Musical Director, Vocal Arranger, Drummer, Vocalist
Over the past eighteen years, Darren has had a wide and varied music career. After graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with an Advanced Diploma of Music, Darren began his professional career as a percussionist for a variety of orchestras including the Queensland Theatre Orchestra, Victorian State Orchestra and Opera Australia.
Darren also has a passion for popular music and has had success as both a songwriter and performer. For several years Darren worked as a theatre drummer on cruise ships, travelling all over the world backing a variety of Vegas-style production shows and international artists such as MARIANNE FAITHFUL and THE DRIFTERS.
Darren has also performed in some of Melbourne’s top cover bands and was the drummer with the IDOLS OF THE 80s show, backing famous Australian 80s stars including PSEUDO ECHO, REAL LIFE, BOOM CRASH OPERA and THE CHANTOOZIES. He has also performed on national television and radio shows backing artists such as RICKI-LEE COULTER, MARK HOLDEN and MARCIA HINES.
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Gillian Perry
Lead Comedian, Vocalist, Dancer
Born and raised in country Victoria, Gillian Perry caught the performing bug early but had no access to training. At eighteen, her raw, natural spunk had her accepted into university to complete a BA in Music Theatre Performance.
After graduating, Gillian joined Brainstorm Productions and toured Australia for two years performing issue-based shows for primary and high school students.
Discovering great chemistry with her touring partner, Ash, Gillian was poached for his DIY theatre company Sisters Grimm and went on to perform in FAT CAMP, BUMTOWN and the highly successful MOMMIE & THE MINISTER, which debuted at LaMama and then later toured to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008. It was her role as Harriet Lovely which had the Herald Sun saying: “Perry is a compelling clown”, and Bnews endorsing with: “Gillian Perry hits every gag with bullseye precision”.
Gillian’s television credits include THE MEGAN MULLALLY SHOW for USA network NBC wherein a video she created of her hometown, Eildon, was shown on air and lead to her being a guest. Back home, she has featured in a Superman 2 sketch with SHAUN MICALLEF for his SBS programme NEWSTOPIA.
Guest Appearances
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Ben Nicholas
Lead Vocalist
Ben will be making guest appearances throughout the season of Sin & Tonic.
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Luke Newman
Drummer
Luke will be making guest appearances throughout the season of Sin & Tonic.
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Danielle O'Malley
Lead Vocalist & Dancer
Danielle will be making guest appearances througout the season of Sin & Tonic.
Behind The Scenes
Take a look behind the curtain...
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John Taylor - Technical Manager.
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Dracula's first taste of blood, the Box Office. Our team of experienced staff help audience members arrange their special night at Dracula's.
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Jayne Newman is Dracula's costume guru. Her costume department, led by Tracy Lord, design, and construct literally hundreds of custom costumes every year. The bespoke stage designes are extremely detailed requiring many hours of work to design and create.
It's been said that Dracula's auditorium is as much an art form as it is a theatre, The wall-to-wall sculpture and horror collectables create an eccentric atmosphere, not unlike the Aadams Family mansion. While some of these nefarious creations have been purchased in various auction rooms, in particular the Hollywood collectables, you may be suprised to know that almost all the props that festoon the blue stone walls are in actual fact created in our own garret-style workshop. An entire floor of our Melbourne operation has been devoted to house haunting. Dracula's workshop constantly churns out not only horror-themed decor , but the various props, puppets, sets and animated special effects that are required for the shows.
Despite the technology that is utilised in creating the animated puppets and displays, theatrical prop-making skills are still brought into play when it comes to the on-stage application. This is where John Newman's eccentric use of coat hangers, plastic buckets and bamboo can make some deceivingly simple yet practicle stageprops.
You may be horrified by the menagerie of dead animals that decorate Dracula's cocktail bar, and you should be. After all it is the house of horrors. Amoungst the ghastly furry critters are some truly rare and bizarre collections. Take the giant Boar that has a goat's beard, lion's teeth and buffalo horns - a taxidermist's Frankenstein. While our collection includes some deadly specimens such as the giant strangling python, a fifteen-centimeter tarantula, crocodiles, scorpions and shark jaws, our prize display would have to be the very rare Transylvanian (European) vampire bat.
Paul Newman
Our technical wizard, Paul working on one of the many sophisticated anamatronic creations that amaze and entertain at Dracula's.
Credits
- Produced & Written By:
- Marc Newman
- Directed By:
- Haydie Newman
- Technical Director:
- Paul Newman
- Costume Design:
- Jayne Newman
- Technical Manager:
- John Taylor
- Stage Manager:
- Paul Wessels & Luke Newman
- Musical & Vocal Director:
- Darren Hulcombe
- Score & Arrangements:
- Matt Bradshaw
- Choreography:
- Phillippa Harrison
- Prop Construction:
- Nathan Reardon
- Costume Manufacture:
- Kate Stosic & Tracey Lord
- General Manager:
- Rebecca Scott
- Administrative Manager:
- Gabe Newman
- CEO:
- Alfred Schmid