Menna, an Egyptian teenager has recently moved with her father, Farouq, to the isolated seaside town of Whitby. The two are finding it a challenge to integrate, with Menna throwing herself into the traditions of her new home, and her father becoming even more removed from it. On this Halloween night, Menna has a plan to host a dramatic reading of Dracula in the graveyard amongst the iconic ruins of Whitby Abbey, mirroring the location of the town featured in Bram Stoker’s classic novel.

“The motivation for writing this was charged by my experience of growing up amongst a minority community of Arabs in Yorkshire.” Says writer and director Nadia Eman. “The misunderstanding of these communities is influenced by exposure to negative media broadcasts and how film and television chooses to include Muslims in their storylines. It’s a very different experience to being a part of these communities in a big city, where multiculturalism is so prevalent and integral to everyday life. In areas of the UK where people of colour are seen as outsiders, the challenge of living a dual life, and navigating a clash of cultures, is magnified.”

“I’m a big fan of gothic culture and classic literature, which is why I wanted to incorporate the Dracula themed story in Whitby. It also provides the sense of an alluring new world for the protagonist, Menna: living a double life and immersing in a land of make believe, but also relating to themes of fear and isolation”

Filming took place on location in Scarbrough and Whitby in April 2021 and finished post production in August 2021. It will now start it’s festival run. The shoot was particularly challenging as the country was still under lockdown restrictions due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. We are particularly grateful to all the cast and crew for adapting to the new challenges and working so hard to make this film. We’re now looking forward to screening the film at festivals.