Prepare to be scared as a chilling adaptation of Dracula comes to the Fairfield Halls next month, writes Andy Bloss.

This classic tale of spine tingling Gothic horror is coming to Croydon for a series of shows, based on the novel by Bram Stoker and adapted by Liz Lochhead.

Count Dracula wields his hypnotic influence over all those he meets and after sucking young Lucy Westerman blood dry, she to turns into a vampire.

Dracula then turns his attention to her friend Mina Westerman, played by Beatrice Rose. It is here where the battle to save Mina’s life begins.

The audience will see if her fiancé can prevent her to becoming one of the undead and the latest addition to Dracula’s ranks.

There are a few familiar faces in the cast. Beatrice Rose played the chamber maid in the extremely popular Long Live the Mad Parade which featured in the Fairfield Halls last year.

Jay Worthy, who plays Renfield in Dracula, appeared as Fleshcreep in the Fairfield’s Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Rose, says she is looking forward to returning to the Fairfield Halls and says she is excited about turning her hand to horror after the light hearted Long Live the Mad Parade.

She says: "It is a real contrast to the last play I did in Croydon. This one is much darker, more serious and more sensual.

"Being back in Croydon is great as it is like a little family here and people recognise me from when I was here a couple of months back."

Dracula is well known for its scenes of a more sensual nature and Rose says there is no holding back in this adaptation of the classic novel.

She says: "We are all certainly getting to know each other better. We were joking the other day that it was like day three in the Big Brother house or something.

"The book is very sensual and we aren’t shying away from those scenes.

"It is a really interesting adaptation. People would have read the book but perhaps have not seen it on stage. So I think the audience would enjoy watching it, I would recommend people to come along."

Dracula, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, March 6-9, £11, call 020 8688 9291 or visit www.fairfield.co.uk.