REVIEW: The Highgate Vampire at The Glitch 30 April – 5 May 2025

‘Dodgy goings on in 1970s London’ ★★★★★

An evil, red-eyed presence stalks the streets of London. Two men, a dodgy bishop and a deluded tobacconist cum demon hunter are forced to work together to track it down, despite their antipathy towards each other. 

Allegedly based on a true story, The Highgate Vampire was an absolute hoot. Writers and performers James Demaine and Alexander Knot play a series of characters who encounter the vampire as well as the hapless investigators: Bishop Patrick Sheffield and demon hunter Daniel Farringdon. 

The fast paced, action-packed sometimes anarchic show was full of silliness which had the audience giggling and guffawing throughout. Demaine and Knot played off each other seamlessly. 

The subterranean venue with low ceilings and brick walls was the perfect venue. I was sad that they didn’t share the name of the techie as she was as much part of the action as Demaine and Knot, and equally funny, despite being a non-speaking part. Kudos too to Samuel Herron’s sound design.

The show was great fun, and I would highly recommend it. 

THE HIGHGATE VAMPIRE  written and performed by James Demaine and Alexander Knot, 30 April to 5 May 2025 at The Glitch, https://www.tickettailor.com/events/vaultcreativearts

Writers and performers: James Demaine & Alexander Knot

Original Music & Sound Design by Samuel Heron 

Associate Producer - Zöe Grain 

Produced by Bag of Beard Theatre

Reviewer: Srabani Sen

Srabani is a theatre actress and playwright. As an actress she has performed at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (The Globe), the Arcola, Southwark Playhouse, The Pleasance and numerous fringe theatres, in a range of roles from Shakespeare to plays by new and emerging writers. She has written several short and full length plays. Her play Tawaif was longlisted for the ETPEP Finborough award, and her play Vijaya was shortlisted for the Sultan Padamsee Playwrights Award in Mumbai.