How 'Interview With Vampire' brought Théâtre des Vampires to life
The latest season of AMC's Interview With the Vampire has successfully recreated the iconic Théâtre des Vampires, a key element from Anne Rice's 1976 novel. Production designer Mara LaPere-Schloop, drawn to the artistic promise of creating the Théâtre des Vampires and its coven, found her satisfaction in Season 2. "More than anything, I really wanted to sink my teeth into this theater and the coven," LaPere-Schloop told Variety.
Theatre des Vampires debuted in Season 2
The Théâtre des Vampires made its first appearance in the second episode of the new season. The plot follows characters Louis, played by Jacob Anderson, and Claudia, portrayed by Delainey Hayles. They join a coven that lives openly in Paris as a grotesque theater troupe. The series has updated Rice's original setting from the 1800s to the 1940s, featuring the coven putting on blood-splattering performances that captivate a desensitized post-World War II audience.
'Gothic in tone, but not necessarily in a historic way...'
To achieve the desired atmosphere, the series required a space that served as an "unapologetically" and "insatiably indulgent oasis for the campy coven." LaPere-Schloop and showrunner Rolin Jones aimed for a setting that was gritty yet entrancing. "Gothic in tone, but not necessarily in a historic way," LaPere-Schloop explained, adding, "More of a turn-of-the-century industrial space with gothic fingerprints on it." They discovered the ideal location in an old factory in Prague—one of many European sites scouted for S02.
Projection animation used in the coven's performances
In the depths of the backstage, LaPere-Schloop's team personalized each vanity for the coven members. The series's most significant mid-century upgrade to Rice's creation is the projection animation used in the coven's performances. This early cinema expressionism style—created in partnership with the London-based theater troupe 1927—charts the passage of time as Louis and Claudia fall deeper under the coven's spell. "The projections kind of start monochromatic and then, as time passes, we start to see color bleed in," LaPere-Schloop explained.
Series explores omitted elements from the original novel
The series delves into a crucial part of Rice's 1976 novel that was left out from the 1994 film adaptation: Louis and Claudia's quest for other vampires. This journey forms a significant part of the first two seasons' 15 episodes. Jones previously mentioned, "We always thought this would be a lovely little gift for fans...We focused on the relationship...and how we foreshadow an inevitable ending but do it with a moment of grace." It is now streaming on AMC+.
