Confessions of a Lunatic
★★★☆☆ Atmospheric
theSpace on the Mile (Venue 39): Sat 2 – Fri 22 Aug 2025
Review by Hugh Simpson
An attempt to go over familiar ground in a new way is not always wholly successful in Confessions of a Lunatic, from Nightshade Theatre and New Celts.
Basically, Lewis Mullan’s play is a version of Dracula, but with many of the main characters cut. There’s no Van Helsing and no Mina. Renfield is foregrounded, also taking on much of Jonathan Harker’s function.
Arzaneira Deepsri, Lewis Mullan, Aydan MacDonald and Elliot Shaw. Pic: Nightshade Theatre.
The original story has been adapted so many times that it seems there is little that hasn’t been tried. This isn’t the first time Renfield, Dracula’s incarcerated, fly-swallowing minion, has been the central character.
Being set in the North-East of Scotland, complete with a female Dracula, would seem to be more original, but we’ve seen another version that did exactly the same only two years ago in Morna Pearson’s Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning.
atmospheric and spooky
This version does, however, attempt to carve out its own identity. It ends up falling a little between two stools; the emphasis on Renfield’s mental health does hint at modernity, but then too often it lurches back into overwrought Gothic tropes.
Some of the writing is decidedly atmospheric and spooky; some, such as a rewrite of Tam O’Shanter, needs pruning, in a show that goes on a little too long.
Mullan’s performance as Renfield is extremely impressive and sympathetic, with a raw physicality. Aydan MacDonald gives his physician John Seward an uptight brusqueness that works well.
Lewis Mullan and Arzaneira Deepsri. Pic: Nightshade Theatre.
Elliot Shaw is very good at showing the repressed emotions of Lucy Westenra, while Arzaneira Deepsri’s Dracula is a full-on characterisation, oozing menace.
Ian Dunn’s direction is atmospheric, with Chloe McCleave’s lighting and Alex McCleave’s sound aiding greatly.
There is no doubting this production’s ambition, and the end result is fascinating if patchy.
Running time: One hour and 10 minutes (no interval).
theSpace on the Mile (Space 3), 80 High St, EH1 1TH. (Venue 39).
Saturday 2 – Friday 22 August 2025).
Even dates only: 4.35pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
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Elliot Shaw and Aydan MacDonald. Pic: Nightshade Theatre.
ENDS
