An historical drama in two acts, by Roger Goddard
 
Act 1
The play starts in 1457, with Vlad Dracula recently having taken the
throne, as Prince of Wallachia. Gradually, he is bringing stability and
prosperity to the Principality, by ruling with a rod of iron and building for
himself a reputation as a bloodthirsty tyrant.

We witness his wild and cruel behaviour to everyone he comes into
contact with, in particular Elena, his peasant girl mistress.
His younger brother Radu, meanwhile, has been enjoying life with the
Turkish Sultan, after both he and Vlad were given to the Turks as
hostages as teenagers.

Act 2
It is now 1461 and the Turks have driven Dracula out of his capital, but
they cannot defeat him without the help of his brother Radu. After an
emotional meeting of the brothers on the eve of battle, Dracula escapes to
Transylvania and Radu takes the throne as the Turks’ puppet ruler.
Although Dracula escapes, he is arrested by the Hungarians and held
captive there for 12 years, before being offered his freedom if he leads an
army back into Wallachia to oust the Turks. This he does, after Radu has
died ignominiously of syphilis.

Finally, after a triumphant return to the Wallachian capital, Dracula is
killed (in true vampire style) by a peasant seeking revenge for the horrific
murder of his daughter many years earlier.