Article No 13 (1974)
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DRACULA'S COFFIN STOLEN!
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24 January 1974 Crewe Chronicle Page 1.

AN ACTOR Charles McKeown lost his stage bed last week with the disappearance of
a very important prop in Crewe Theatre's production of "Dracula". Charles, who
appears in the title role, has to spend part of his time on stage resting in a
rather superior coffin. But the trouble is someone else took a fancy to the
coffin when it was left outside the theatre's stage door. For the coffin,
painted black and decorated in gothic script, mysteriously vanished.

Said a Theatre spokesman: "We checked with the dustmen, but they hadn't taken
it." The loss was reported to the Police, but another coffin had to be hastily
assembled in the theatre workshop in time for Tuesday's curtain up.

"The Coffin was found on Saturday morning propped up against a railway bridge
in Middlewich Street, Crewe - a stone's throw from Crewe Cemetery. Said a
Theatre spokesman: "The Count is delighted that a coffin has been returned to
him."

(With thanks to the Crewe Chronicle for reproduction of this article)

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