Big, loud, sexy, silly and fun are the words used by Dracula’s chief executive to describe the show coming to Rotorua in July.

Dracula’s has added two additional performances of its new production Sanctuary to the Rotorua leg of its New Zealand tour due to high demand, Newman Entertainment chief executive Luke Newman said.

“Dracula’s has been around for a very long time and we’ve got a very unique sort of blend of entertainment,” Newman said.

He said the show was a mix of comedy, live music, aerial acrobatics, dancing and singing, “all wrapped up in this crazy vampire world that we’ve created”.

Dracula’s steward and Newman Entertainment CEO Luke Newman said he couldn’t be more thrilled with the overwhelming support from New Zealand audiences. Photo / supplied

“This one’s called Sanctuary, and it’s set inside a vampire asylum,” he said.

The show has doctors, nurses and vampire patients.

“If you come to our touring show, you can expect huge entertainment, laughs, dancing and singing along. It’s a great fun night out.”

Newman said the audience feedback had been amazing.

“People just love it. It’s so great to be able to come to a show like ours and just forget about everything outside and just have a great time.

“The style of entertainment really resonates with New Zealand audiences, we have a similar sense of humour as Aussies and New Zealanders.”

Coming to Rotorua for the first time ever, local audiences have shown their enthusiasm, with tickets to the previously announced two shows nearing capacity. Photo / supplied

This would be the second time the show had toured New Zealand, but it had been going in Australia for 45 years. Newman believed its audiences were at least 40% to 60% Kiwis, so he said he just had to bring it across the ditch.

“We got the lay of the land last time so we’re returning this time and we’ve upped the number of shows we’re doing and the number of cities, and that’s why it’s so exciting to be coming to new places like Rotorua.

“As soon as we looked into Rotorua, it was a clear winner, proving to be true just from the response in ticket sales.

Musical tributes to icons like Guns N’ Roses, Elton John and No Doubt will leave audiences wanting more, with an encore promised for those who cheer the loudest. Photo / supplied

“We’re extremely excited to get there, it’s a beautiful venue and we’ve been working with the crew over there already to make it all come to life.”

Initially, the tour only included two shows in Rotorua, a Friday night show and a Saturday night show.

However, both shows have already almost sold out so they decided to add another two, a matinee on Saturday and a night show on Sunday.

With a crew of 22 members and additional locals along the way to help set up the venue, they have a whole army working to make this show one to remember.

Lead dancer Amber Flaherty has been working on Dracula’s shows for two-and-a-half years and, before being a part of the show, she regularly went to the Gold Coast shows with her parents when she was old enough. “It’s such an incredible show, I always wanted to be a part of it,” she said.

“We have an incredible cast, and luckily we’re all very close. Spending so much time on the road, you get to know each other very well.

Following a near sell-out run of tickets for their 2025 New Zealand tour in Rotorua, Dracula’s will add two additional performances of their new show Sanctuary at the Sir Howard Morrison Theatre in July. Photo / supplied

“It feels like one massive family when we’re touring around together and we’re constantly throughout the year are messaging each other like ‘miss you, see you in five months’ because we all live in different states and countries.

Flaherty was on the first New Zealand tour and said it was “absolutely amazing”.

“I’d never been to New Zealand before last year so it was super exciting.

“The New Zealand crowds were just awesome so we’re all extremely excited to be coming back and coming to some new cities this year.”

Flaherty hasn’t been to Rotorua before but said she was excited because she had heard it was beautiful.

She described Sanctuary as a show like no one had seen before.

“It’s got all those elements of Dracula’s that everybody loves but with its own little flair.

“This is not something that you’re ever going to experience in any other show, in any other place, apart from Dracula’s, so, while it’s in your city and while it’s local to you, don’t miss out.

“Come and see what all the fuss is about.”

Dracula’s Sanctuary tour in Rotorua

When: Four shows on July 4, 5 and 6

Where: Sir Howard Morrison Centre

Tickets and more information available here.