The history of the musical

The musical Dracula, written by Karel Svoboda, Zdeněk Borovec, and Richard Hes, has come a long way since its premiere in 1995. It has been performed at several Prague theaters, including the Hybernia Theater and the Karlín Music Theater. Daniel Hůlka became the star of the show in the title role of Dracula, becoming the face of the performance from the very beginning. The dark ruler of Transylvania turned out to be one of the most significant roles of his career, and over its 30-year run, the musical has enjoyed unprecedented popularity with audiences.

The Bloods

And what role do the Bloods play in the musical? For those who aren’t familiar with it, we’ll give a brief introduction. These renowned dancers in red accompany the actors on stage with distinctive, energetic choreography that serves as an artistic interpretation of flowing blood. Their costumes and striking makeup have also become one of the musical’s most iconic visual elements.

Dracula 30 years tour

To mark the musical’s 30th anniversary, a tour was held across the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The tour concluded with two sold-out performances at the O2 Arena, which all fans had been eagerly awaiting. The final show also marked Daniel Hůlka’s farewell performance in the role of Dracula.

How did we become a part of the show

The tour production team approached us with a request for a show to complement the program - one that would be more subtly tuned not to take the attention from the musical itself. We therefore opted for walking acts, during which the performers walk among the guests, improvise with props, and take photos with them. We discussed the possibility of both fire and light walking acts, and ultimately chose the light version. The client’s wish was for the costumes and makeup to resemble the appearance of the Bloods closely as possible.

Creative brainstorming

When the creative team received the assignment from our sales representative Alžběta, they were overjoyed. The artists immediately seized the opportunity to embody these iconic characters and interpret their appearance and personalities in their own unique way. However, it wasn’t easy—the movements of the Bloods in the musical are based on ballet and traditional theatrical dance. Our task was to integrate these characters into a modern light show, right before the eyes of the production team, actors, and dancers from Dracula.

Costume design

At first, we tried putting the costumes together using red accessories that we use for other shows. After many attempts and combinations, we decided to sew costumes tailored specifically for this performance. Terezka and Bára set to work making six skirts and tops, which we complemented with stockings and gloves. Finally, we put red-lit LED harnesses over the costumes, which added an unconventional element to the look.

LED walking acts lit up the VIP zone

While the musical’s final performance was in full swing, our dancers arrived at the O2 Arena, began applying their makeup and getting ready. This look required a lot of white paint, and we had to help each other cover our entire heads including every strand of hair, but we really loved the result.

During their twenty-minute sets, the performers walked through the VIP zone with various types of LED equipment, taking photos with guests and adding to the atmosphere. There was huge interest in them, and the feedback really delighted us. Even Count Dracula himself, Daniel Hůlka, was thrilled. He said that seeing so many Bloods in one place was a dream come true for him—he’s always loved them in the show. Even the "real Bloods" complimented our costumes! And that’s the best response we could possibly get for our show. When we bring smiles to so many faces and make a special event even more unforgettable.