New blood helps Dracula’s creators revamp their iconic Gold Coast comedy cabaret theatre

AS they prepare to unveil an all-new vampire romp, the masterminds behind the Dracula’s Comedy Cabaret restaurants say they’ll continue to refuse any and all offers for their iconic Broadbeach business.

Draculas creative director Marc Newman and his nephew, operations manager Luke Newman. Picture Mike Batterham.

A NEW generation of showbiz royalty is injecting fresh blood into Dracula’s iconic entertainment empire on the Gold Coast.

The masterminds behind the Dracula’s Comedy Cabaret restaurants at Broadbeach and in Melbourne, the Newman family — parents John Newman, his late wife Tikki Newman and their three children, tech whiz Paul, writer Marc and director Haydie — have been creating, updating and evolving their world-renowned shows for more than 40 years.

Creative director Marc Newman said the family had knocked back numerous offers from “big players” eager to buy into or buy out the award-winning Gold Coast business, first opened in 1985.

“You can imagine the franchise offers,” he said.

“Goodness — we get an unbelievable amount of theatre companies throughout the world saying we want to open one of these in Berlin and other big cities.

“Las Vegas — we’ve had about 30 offers from Vegas. But it’s not a McDonald’s. You can’t just reproduce it like a cookie cutter. It’s bespoke comedy. It’s all custom designed for our people.”

The family has refused to entertain any and all offers for its Broadbeach theatre complex on a waterfront block opposite Pacific Fair, next to The Star Gold Coast, which allows developments of up to 20 storeys.

“We don’t let people get near,” Mr Newman said.

“We’ve had some fairly big guns want to take over the operation but we won’t entertain it at all because we’re very passionate and the flame that has driven us from the very early days of Dracula’s, we still have that.

“And that’s why we’re unrelenting every year and we pull walls down — we’re always on a new project.”

The family has now turned to a new generation of Newmans to help it lure younger audiences through its doors.

Dracula’s Broadbeach operations manager Luke Newman and his uncle, creative director Marc Newman. Picture Mike Batterham

Marc’s nephew, Luke has taken over as operations manager of the Broadbeach site while Marc’s son, Taylor, oversees the bars at both the Melbourne and Coast venues.

“We’ve been having great success seeking new markets in India and Dubai as well as trying to reinvent the passion with our longstanding markets — New Zealand and the Brisbane drive market — but we’re also on a drive to reinvigorate the younger market,” Mr Newman said.

The younger Newmans have played a crucial role in a top to tale revamp of the Broadbeach venue in time for the premiere of all-new viral vampire romp, Terrorbyte, on July 4.

“From an entertainment point of view, we’re really tipping it on its head,” Mr Newman said.

“We put a million dollars back into the venue each year and open a brand new show every 12 months. This new show alone — we’re a week into rehearsals and we’ve spent about $200,000 and counting already on show production.”

Dracula's stalwart Rudi Testa (right) in 2015 Dracula’s show Spiderlash. Photo: Kit Wise

Dracula’s has also brought in consultants to conduct a “full audit” of its food and beverage operations and menus.

Luke Newman said Terrorbyte would show off the venue’s newly installed $200,000 Meyer Sound system, LED video wall and infra red video tracking system, similar to the one used in the King Kong stage musical.

“The techies’ jaws drop when they see it,” he said.

“It’s real time rendering of a screen seven metres wide. It’s quite a big deal.”

Luke said Terrorbyte included a new 4D experience housed in a four-storey area added to the existing theatre.

“It’s a fully immersive experience,” he said.

“It feels like you’re standing in a grave looking up out of the hole and as you look up, the priests and all the mourners come to the side of the grave and it’s like you’re experiencing your own funeral.”

Terrorbyte opens at Dracula’s on July 4.