Colin Baker is Van Helsing

Colin Baker is now starring as Van Helsing in the world premiere of award-winning playwright Bryony Lavery's adaptation of "Bram Stoker's Dracula," according to several news reports which interview the sixth Doctor about his experiences on the stage. "My first experience of live theatre was as a child watching The Follies on a beach in Lancashire," Baker says. The article notes that his love of theatre started when he was sitting with his mother watching the North Manchester Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of the King and I at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. "When it finished, I turned to my mother and said, loudly enough for the bloke in the seat in front to hear: 'I would love to be in something like this'. The man in front turned round and said: 'Young man, I'm the president of this drama group, why don't you come along to rehearsals next Friday?' So I did. The following Friday I went along, saw they had about 80 percent girls there. I thought it looked like a good idea then," he jokes. The presentation of "Dracula" runs April 26-30 at the Plymouth Royal Theatre; information is available via telephone on 01752 267222.