The next interview in our Stagey Chat series is with Ako Mitchell. Ako is set to play Dracula in Dracapella, which opens at Park Theatre on 3rd December; the perfect Christmas treat to sink your teeth into...

Get yourself comfy and get ready to chat all things stagey!

Hi Ako, how are you doing today? 

I’m great, thanks. Hope you are very, very well. 

Thanks so much for chatting to Stage to Page again - it's been a while! Would you mind re-introducing yourself to our readers and telling us how you first got into the industry?

Hi. I’m Ako Mitchell. I’m a British American actor with a career on stage and screen spanning about 20 years now. Yikes. 

You're set to play Dracula in Dracapella, opening at the Park Theatre in December. Can you tell us about this particular adaptation of the classic from Bram Stoker?

Sure thing. This is a lighthearted, heartwarming - extremely funny, might I add - take on the classic tale. It’s less about a battle between the forces of good and evil - and more about a battle for the best thing of all - LOVE. 

Is it daunting or exciting to be portraying your own version of one of the most iconic characters of all time? And how are you going about tackling the role?

I love that Dracula is so iconic. I think our take is exciting in that it is so jovial with true heart at the core. In this role, I’m paying tribute to my personal icons like Gene Wilder, Eddie Murphy and Nathan Lane. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to show this side of myself as a performer. 

The show features acapella versions of popular rock hits. If you could add any of your own favorite rock songs to the show, what would they be and why?

I’d probably add Tom Petty’s ‘Learning to Fly’. Though I guess that could be a pretty batty addition. 

My blog is called Stage to Page. But if you could turn any book, from page to stage, what would it be and why?

Great question. I have a few - which I might keep to myself as a writer (wink) - but maybe I could suggest Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. It’s a very life affirming story about having the courage to strike a path for yourself regardless of the criticism of others - a very relatable theme for a performer. 

And finally, why should people book tickets to see Dracapella?

If you adore fun times, razor sharp comedy, delicious harmonies and life itself, you should probably come along to our show. I thank you!

You can book tickets to Dracapella, here.