Ottawa's Hillcrest High School proved this spring that you don't need a Hollywood budget to pull off a truly haunting Dracula — just committed student performers, a sharp director, and a story that's been terrifying audiences for over a century.
The production, reviewed as show number 12 in this year's Ottawa Cappies season, was directed by Sabrina Kayed and reviewed by St. Joseph High School critic Heidi Von-Microys as part of the prestigious student theatre recognition program.
A Gothic Classic Done Right
Bram Stoker's Dracula is not an easy show to stage. The source material demands atmosphere, tension, and performances that sell genuine fear — not easy asks for any cast, let alone high schoolers juggling coursework alongside rehearsals.
But Hillcrest delivered. According to the Cappies review, the production centred on a powerful theme: that people must lean on each other to overcome great danger and save the ones they love. It's a message as relevant today as it was when Stoker first put it to paper in 1897, and the Hillcrest cast brought it home with conviction.
The direction from Kayed clearly gave the performers room to inhabit the gothic world of the show fully — shadowy, tense, and atmospheric from start to finish.
What the Cappies Program Means for Ottawa
For those unfamiliar, the Cappies (Critics and Awards Programme) is one of the most valuable youth arts initiatives running in Ottawa schools. Student critics from participating high schools attend each other's productions, write formal reviews, and ultimately vote on awards recognizing the best performers of the season.
It's a program that does double duty: it develops real writing and critical thinking skills in the reviewers, while giving performers the experience of being seen and evaluated by peers — not just parents and teachers.
Ottawa's Cappies season typically runs from fall through spring, with participating schools spanning the public and Catholic boards. This year's lineup has already hit 12 productions, covering everything from comedies to classics to, now, full-blown gothic horror.
Ottawa's High School Stages Are Thriving
It's easy to overlook student theatre when there's so much happening on Ottawa's professional stages — but that would be a mistake. The talent coming out of Ottawa high schools is real, and the Cappies program is one of the best ways to witness it firsthand.
Productions like Hillcrest's Dracula are the result of months of work: memorizing lines, building sets, sourcing costumes, coordinating lighting cues, and learning to hold a stage — all while keeping up with classes. The dedication it takes is no small thing.
If you've never caught a Cappies-reviewed production at an Ottawa high school, this season is a great time to start. Check the Ottawa Cappies website for remaining shows and award ceremony details. You might just discover your next favourite performer before they hit the city's professional stages.
Source: Ottawa Citizen / Cappies, review by Heidi Von-Microys, St. Joseph High School
