Photo Flash: London's Lyceum Theatre Marks Centenary Year of Bram Stoker's Death

The Ambassador Theatre Group's Lyceum Theatre in London hosted a special drinks reception to mark the Centenary Year of Bram Stoker's death on Friday, April 20. Celebrated Dracula historian ElizaBeth Miller and members of the Stoker family flew in from the US for the event, where members of the Dracula Society, in conjunction with The Lyceum Theatre, raised a toast to the celebrated writer in the venue where he wrote the infamous Dracula. See photos from the event below!

The auditorium, which was built at the time of Henry Irving & Bram Stoker, was demolished in 1904 and the current auditorium was built. The Lyceum still has the original blue print plans of the Henry Irving/Bram Stoker theatre. Bram Stoker was the Business Manager for the Lyceum between 1878 & 1898, and was Acting Manager for the theatre whilst Irving was on stage. Dracula was penned at the Lyceum and was completed in 1897, a year before he left. Bram Stoker based part of Dracula on Henry Irving and the way he 'stalked the halls of the theatre'. Dracula was produced in the Lyceum and Bram Stoker wanted Irving to play the part, but he refused.

The first Lyceum Theatre was on The Strand in 1765 which means there has been a Lyceum Theatre in the area for 247 years. The main entrance to the theatre (pillars and portico roof) has been here for 178 years and was the 5th re-build which took place in 1834 by Samuel Beazley. The current Lyceum Theatre will celebrate it's 178th birthday on 14 July 2012. The Lyceym's big birthday is 17 July 2014 when we will celebrate the big 180 years on the current site.

Photos courtesy of the Lyceum Theatre.

Tony Lee (Dracula Society)

ElizaBeth Miller (Dracula Historian)

Sir Christopher Frayling

Suko Akuln

Julia Kruk (Dracula Society)

Sir Christopher Frayling, Julia Kruk, ElizaBeth Miller, Suko Akuln, Dacre Stoker (Great-Grand Nephew of Bram Stoker)

Sir Christopher Frayling and Dacre Stoker

Dacre Stoker