The Highgate Vampire

Bag of Beard Theatre return this Autumn with The Highgate Vampire, bringing one of London’s most infamous gothic legends to the stage. Co-writers and performers Alexander Knott and James Demaine will reprise their onstage rivalled partnership in this riotous and thrilling comedy set amongst the shadows of Highgate Cemetery in 1970s London. 

Sinking their teeth into the urban legend which haunted Highgate and beyond, Alexander Knott and James Demaine join forces and rally together to rid London of its rumoured red eyed creature. They will bring to life the notorious demon-hunting priest and the occult tobacconist by day and vanquisher of the undead by night. 

This outrageous production is based on the real-life figures who took on the case in the 70s. Fictionalising the true story for audiences today, the two unruly Londoners recount the tale of the Highgate Vampire with racing wit, humour and enough rivalry to have audiences lean into the dark instead of shy away. 

The Highgate Vampire premieres at Omnibus Theatre, 16 December - 30 December, following a well-received workshop at The Glitch early in 2025. As writers Knott and Demaine set down their partnered writer’s quills to take up arms in an uneasy alliance, the result, is a new dark comedy that asks you to imagine, among other things, what if The Woman in Black had been performed by The Mighty Boosh?

Directed by Ryan Hutton The Highgate Vampire is a horrifying new play, an ink-dark comedy and very possibly the most shocking true story you haven’t heard. Yet.

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