Carmilla

Theoretical design for a production of Carmilla by David MacDowell Blue for the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.

The second world war is about to begin, but Laura and her father remain isolated in the Austrian countryside. When there is a car accident outside the mansion,  young woman Carmilla is left by a mother who never returns in the care of Laura’s father. Laura and Carmilla spend every waking moment together and over time, the two girls develop a deep passion for each other. Meanwhile, an ancient curse that once swept the surrounding countryside returns, leaving almost a dozen young girls dead in its wake. There is talk of the family that once lived in the same castle as Laura now does, and whose portraits bear a striking resemblance to Carmilla.  People begin to talk of vampires, as if they are real…

A gothic romance recontextualised to 1930's Austria, Carmilla is a love story between young woman Laura and vampiress Carmilla with themes of sapphic romance, the Gothic heroine, and the looming threat of fascism. Key areas of research were historical queer signalling within fashion, 1930's/40's military uniforms and gothic literature and architecture.