TURNING the Prince of Darkness into the bloodsucker of cyberspace becomes quite a programming nightmare as this Bryony Lavery adaptation attempts to draw fresh blood from Bram Stoker's classic ghoul-fest.

Somehow, a set with steep ramps linking five levels has to fashion a journey from Transylvania to Whitby, Essex and Hampstead Heath and back again. Even Richard Bremmer's darkly comic count almost came to grief at one point, or should that be two? Emails, text messages, faxes, CCTV and mobile phones cleverly replace Stoker's original device of Victorian jottings and news reports. And references to TV's Buffy and Dracula opting for the Atkin's Diet were welcome inclusions as today's medical and legal experts wrestled somewhat pathetically with a bloodthirsty legend come to life.

But the fast-paced nature of turning the book into a two-hour tale meant that star names like Christopher Cazenove, as vampire hunter Van Helsing, were flying faster around the set than a bat with its braces on fire. Raunchy goings-on, two video screens, a multitude of characters and some somewhat gabbled serious dialogue in between bursts of red-bloodied comedy ensure that the production isn't quite ready to fly. Laura Howard - famous as Midsomer Murders' Cully - as Mina, and Katie Foster-Barnes as the tragic Lucy are highly watchable, but raised an unintentional laugh as two well-heeled career girls planning a holiday in Whitby. Perhaps a little less light relief and more musically-inspired tension would ensure this drama grips its audience with the passion it deserves.

* Runs until Saturday. Box Office: (01325) 486 555.

Published: 03/03/2005