Courier

The European premiere of Nosferatu the Vampire was a fine tribute to its creator, Bernard J Taylor. Taylor's version of the classic vampire story portrays Nosferatu as a sad and tragic figure, a scientist and philosopher from a noble background who has lost hope of finding meaning in his life.

The remarkable voice of Peter Straker, a somewhat unusual-looking vampire with his long hair and spectacles, is put to the test as the story unfolds. Apart from his opening scene when his voice was so soft that the microphone failed to catch all his words, causing the audience to strain their ears, Straker gave an outstanding performance.

The cast was a clever mixture of voices and talents, each contributing in their own way to a memorable production that looks set to make its mark in the musical world.

Christopher Biggins dropped his celebrity image to demonstrate the full force of his acting and singing ability in an unforgettable rendering of Renfield, the vampire's procurer. Every corner of the Hippodrome Theatre resounded with his demonic laughter.

Taylor's Nosferatu has all the advantages of 20th century input into a traditional tale and is certain to make its mark on the musical world. The fine lyrics are complemented by a melodious haunting score and the show loses nothing by being staged in a dark and sombre setting, where the lack of lighting cleverly enhances rather than detracts.