Nosferatu

A contemporary Tasmanian Gothic adaptation of the silent movie classic

Published by Currency Press
Buy a copy

You’ve heard the rumours. The whispers of what happened here…

Wander too far from Tasmania’s western highway and you might find Bluewater—a mining town with no mine, where the population is dwindling and the future hangs in the balance. When a rich and charming count appears wanting to turn Bluewater’s fortunes around, it makes sense to invite him in, doesn’t it?

Vineyards are planted and money flows for the first time in years—so when people start disappearing, no one dares to ask why… So long as you’re not the one in danger, it’s easy to turn a blind eye to the horrors on your doorstep.

Keziah Warner’s scintillating gothic drama is a darkly funny and chilling take on the iconic 1922 silent film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.

Be careful who you let through your door. You might get more than you’d bargained for.

This script was commissioned by Malthouse Theatre through the support of the Malcolm Robertson Foundation.

AWARDS
Highly Commended for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, 2024

First presented by Malthouse Theatre
10 February – 5 March 2023

CREDITS
Playwright: Keziah Warner
Director: Bridget Balodis
Set & Costume Designer: Romanie Harper
Lighting Designer: Paul Jackson
Composer & Sound Designer: Kelly Ryall
Cast: Jacob Collins-Levy, Sophie Ross, Keegan Joyce, Shamita Siva, Max Brown

REVIEWS
4.5 stars. A tight, atmospheric and highly enjoyable romp through myth, social commentary, environmentalism and the frailties of the human condition.
Artshub

The build is slow and delicious as Orlok’s reign of terror continues: it’s the kind of grip-your-seat suspense that makes live theatre so exciting.
The Guardian

dramatic, humorous and seductive…bloody good fun
The Blurb.

genuinely thrilling
The Guardian.

This new play… delves into modern Australia’s anxiety about the environment, capitalism, elitism and, of course, that eternal vampiric metaphor of sexual transgression. Which makes it sound very serious, but Nosferatu is also amusing, camp and peppered with theatrical tricks.
Limelight.

SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTIONS
Bad Company Theatre, Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart TAS, 6-14 September 2024