VCE & Vampires! 

Zachary Yiolitis

Year 12 Drama

VCE Drama students recently visited the Malthouse Theatre to watch Nosferatu as part of a Performance Analysis SAC. 

Based on the 1922 silent horror film of the same name, the play follows members of a small mining town in Tasmania as they are overtaken and eventually destroyed by the curse of a powerful, but devilishly charming, vampire. 

It was enjoyable to watch how this play explored themes of humanity’s impact on environment, capitalism, and the darkness within all of us, in a clever and unpredictable way. There were also very impressive special effects that caught me off guard: blood rain, characters disappearing in puffs of smoke, shadow puppets that came to life, and so much blood! 

The play really held tension for the audience throughout, starting with a performer appearing from the darkness holding a knife to address the audience, leaving us captivated and invested. Overall, I really enjoyed this performance because of how unique it was in the mastery of developing an uneasy and tense mood, while still maintaining an intriguing plot with important thematic elements.