Review: Dracula: Lucy's Dream (Pleasance at EICC, Lennox Theatre)

Review by Margaret Wynne

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Arriving at the EICC as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the UK premiere of Dracula: Lucy’s Dream wastes no time in unsettling you. From the first moment, it leans into a strange, off-kilter energy that makes you sit forward in the sense that you’re not entirely sure what world you are a part of. 

Plexus Polaire has a distinctive style built around large, expressive puppets and physical performers. Watching this production, it quickly became clear that this wasn't going to be a straightforward retelling of Dracula. Instead, the focus felt much more centred on psychology, fear and control. It was as if the audience was stepping into a strange and unsettling dream where they were never quite sure what was real.

The small and talented cast merged so well with the puppets that it became genuinely difficult to tell not only each actor apart, but which characters were actually real, and that ambiguity felt completely intentional. The three live versions of Lucy added to the confusion, though they were obviously three different actors it didn’t detract from the story.

The original Edinburgh Festival Fringe listing promised puppets which usually means something weird, wonderful or a bit eccentric. While I was not expecting Sesame Street, I was certainly not ready for my emotional, and at times genuinely unsettled, reaction. It was uncomfortable to watch, but you couldn’t look away in case you missed any part of the action. It was hard to focus on all that was happening.

Once I got over the initial shock, I started to settle into the way the production worked. The use of mirrors, or sometimes just performers mirroring each other's movements, and the use of large blocks allowed the action to flow seamlessly across the stage, creating reflections and angles you weren't expecting.

The puppetry itself was astonishing. The level of control, detail, and precision was incredible; even if you’re not keen on puppets, you couldn’t help but admire the skill involved. Meanwhile, the lighting didn’t just set the mood, it hid the puppeteers completely when needed, making the figures appear to move entirely on their own. The sound, music, and the very limited dialogue added to the atmosphere, making the whole thing feel increasingly unsettling. 

The whole show felt like Lucy’s nightmare. It started dark and just kept getting darker, and you could feel her emotion and fear growing throughout. She seemed caught between reality and something much heavier, which made her story incredibly compelling to watch. Dracula might be the title character, but he felt more like a supporting presence in her nightmare, shifting, looming, and never quite fixed. Sometimes he was a puppet, sometimes a performer, and at one point even a swirling group of bats. He was always there, but never in a way that dominated the stage, just adding to the uncomfortable tone. 

There was one moment that really hit me. While the live version of Lucy felt strong, the puppet version appeared scared and vulnerable. Combined with the heavy heartbeat in the background, the scene left me with an increasingly ominous feeling. It made me feel something I couldn't quite put my finger on, and I have been searching for the correct word to identify it ever since. I think the closest word I can find is "distressed".

At one stage I realised I had a completely puzzled expression on my face, partly because I was trying to process everything happening, and partly because a couple of the moments were genuinely difficult for me to watch. No spoilers, but once you see it you’ll understand. It was deeply uncomfortable, but we were in a safe theatrical space and we knew it wasn’t real. 

Because the intensity just kept building, I did wonder how on earth they were going to end it. When the conclusion arrived, it felt a bit rushed, which was a shame given how strong and unsettling the rest of the show was. Overall though, it was fab. That minor pacing issue didn't spoil the impact of an otherwise brilliant and unsettling production, but it did leave me feeling that the ending could have been even stronger. 

On the way out, the crowd chatter summed up the room, ranging from “weird”, “disturbing”, and “don’t have nightmares” to “odd” and “fabulous and strange.” One audience member said they weren’t keen on puppets, but even they admitted the interaction and manipulation was astonishing. That exact mix of delight and discomfort is the strength of the production. The lighting and sound worked beautifully with the actors, emphasising the mood to full effect without ever overwhelming the action. 

Dracula: Lucy's Dream plays at Pleasance at EICC (Lennox Theatre) until 29th August. Tickets are available from Dracula: Lucy's Dream | Pleasance Theatre Trust