Dracula Returns to Derby

Dracula was invented in Derby. His cloak, evening dress, and even his charming manner derive from Hamilton Deane’s 1924 stage adaptation, the premiere of which took place at Derby's Grand Theatre.

Dracula Returns to Derby restores the city’s place in the story of the world’s most famous vampire by highlighting the city’s connections to Bram Stoker, Hamilton Deane and Bela Lugosi.

There are three fantastic ways of finding out about our Dracula heritage:

getting stuck in to our fast-selling and fascinating book, attractively designed for consuming one bite at a time
donning your cloak and setting out along our Dracula Trail, using our book as your guide
seeing up close an amazing array of original Dracula costumes, correspondence, posters - and more! - at Dracula Returns To Derby: 101 Years and counting at Pickford House... where you can buy the book, and meet Derby Museums’ fangtastically enthusiastic guides!

We are planning another international conference for 15 to 17 May 2027. Take a look at the highlights from our last conference.

We’re always looking for new collaborators so please get in touch to discuss ideas.

Dracula around the world

The Derby adaptation toured Britain, transferred to the West End and then Broadway, where Bela Lugosi played Dracula. In 1931 he was cast as the Count in the original Universal Pictures ‘monster movie'. From this film the iconic image of Dracula, developed in Derby, took over the world.

Explore our blog posts discussing some of his more obscure and outrageous appearances.

Dracula around the world blogs

The Dracula Trail

Follow our self-guided Dracula Trail around Derby.

View the map on your mobile device by scanning the QR code.

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Dracula Returns to Derby is an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded research project led by the University of Derby in partnership with Derby Museums, Derby Theatre, Bournemouth University and Sheffield Hallam University.