Bag of Beard Theatre’s latest offering, The Highgate Vampire, is a deliciously dark slice of fringe theatre that proves horror and hilarity can make excellent bedfellows. Co-writers and performers Alexander Knott and James Demaine take inspiration from one of London’s strangest urban legends, spinning a tale that is as absurd as it is atmospheric.
The production begins in unexpected fashion: a lecture delivered by a demon-hunting priest, with the audience cast as eager attendees. It is a clever conceit that immediately sets the tone, blending fact and fiction with a wink. Knott’s priest evokes shades of Frankie Howerd’s Francis Bigger in Carry On Doctor, all pomp and theatrical flourish. Alongside him is Demaine’s Farringdon, a tobacconist by day and vampire hunter by night, whose sardonic wit and occult leanings make for a compelling foil. The pair are sworn enemies, yet necessity forces them into uneasy alliance, and their rivalry simmers deliciously throughout.
Perhaps the biggest selling point of The Highgate Vampire beyond is its refusal to lean on tired tropes. Instead, Knott and Demaine craft a black comedy that feels fresh, mining humour from character rather than cliché. The writing is sharp and self-aware, and the performers’ chemistry is undeniable. They bounce off each other with ease, their verbal sparring as entertaining as the supernatural antics that follow.
Ryan Hutton’s direction keeps the pace brisk, ensuring the shifts between lecture hall and 1970s Highgate never jar. Lighting and sound design (Sam Heron) contribute significantly to the mood, conjuring the eerie shadows of the cemetery before snapping back to the sterile glow of academia. Amid the chaos, Audrey, the long-suffering tech operator, emerges as an unexpected audience favourite, grounding the madness with innocent charm.
At just seventy minutes, the piece feels taut yet leaves you wanting more. There is a sense that this story could expand into something bigger, but as a festive antidote to pantomime and sentimentality, this is one to sink your teeth into. Bag of Beard have carved out a niche for inventive, atmospheric storytelling, and The Highgate Vampire is no exception: a riotous, razor-sharp comedy that revels in the ridiculous without losing sight of its gothic roots.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
