DRACULA Spectacula doesn't scare the young cast of Stagecoach Youth Theatre York.

"We don't need the usual good luck charms associated with protection against the vampire's gothic gloom because there's been so much fun and laughter in the four-month rehearsal run up to next week's show," says director John Cooper.

When Stagecoach first produced the rock musical five years ago the cast's average age was 14 but most of the new company is yet to turn teenage. "Unbelievably, however, many of them have at least three years of Stagecoach productions under their belt, and the youngest performer in the company, Anastasia Crook in the role of verbose student Julie, has just reached the ripe old age of eight!"

In Dracula Spectacula, the immaculate but easily misled school mistress, Miss Nadia Nave (Eliza and Jesse Haughton-Shaw on alternate nights), is drawn into riotous Transylvanian happenings with the irrepressible Count (Dominic Platt) and his gruesome female acolytes.

On the side of right are the noble Nick Necrophiliac, (Alan Drever Smith), the cuddly Heidi (Olivia Sexton/ Anna Wrigley-Howe) and Gretel (Sarah Mills/ Grace Lancaster) and their fuddled friends. Can they prevail over the forces of darkness: the Countess Wraith (Amy Warnock/Cordelia Grierson), Ghenghis the grovelling minion (Sarah Gibbon), the fanged brides and the all-singing, all-dancing Prince of Vampires himself?

Cooper's production team comprises musical director Dave Clements, choreographer Rosie Pethullis and associate director Tessa Longbottom, and video sequences have been put together by John Schofield and students from the York College media department. Dracula Spectacula runs from Tuesday to Saturday at Stagecoach Studio Theatre, Trinity Hall, Monkgate, York. Performances are at 7.30pm, plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee, and tickets cost £6, concessions £4, on 01904 674765. Vampires will be admitted free with ID.

Updated: 15:44 Thursday, March 10, 2005