Heads Up: Let The Right One In

National Theatre of Scotland sinks its teeth into a film hit

Right to life: The Swedish film is being turned into a new stage play

What are we talking about? The NTS's stage version of the Swedish vampire film, which follows a young boy's unlikely friendship with a little girl who has a taste for blood.

Elevator pitch Let the right one in ... to the Dundee Rep Theatre.

Prime movers It's adapted from John Ajvide Lindqvist's original novel and the film by Jack Thorne (The Fades; Skins), and directed by John Tiffany, who won armfuls of awards for Black Watch and whose stage show Once – a hit in New York which has just opened in London – is another film-to-stage adaptation. Choreography comes from Steven Hoggett, who also worked on Black Watch and Once, and is a co-founder of the physical theatre company Frantic Assembly.

The talent The cast includes Paul Thomas Hickey, Lorraine M McIntosh and Chris Reilly.

The early buzz List previewed it as "a tender, funny and brutal love story following the burgeoning relationship between Oskar, a lonely, bullied teenage boy and Eli, a centuries-old, young vampire". The Independent's Alice Jones wrote that "the action will be set in the forests and beaches of Dundee; the snowy playground and swimming pool of the original film will also make an appearance".

Insider knowledge The NTS is running linked events around Dundee; residents and visitors can download an app to lead them on an eerie alternative tour of the town.

It's great that … there will be blood. The film adaptations (there was an US remake, too) have their gruesome moments – not always easy to replicate on stage – but Hoggett has promised that the vampire's "murderous, insatiable appetite" will be recreated .... They've even hired a blood specialist.

It's a shame that … there are no plans to tour, not even around Scotland. But, given the hit-making career of Tiffany – and the fact that this tale has already travelled from page to screen, Sweden to America – we wouldn't bet against it having an, er, extended life.

Hit potential The film connection will be a draw for cinephiles, Tiffany will attract theatre-lovers and Thorne will bring in telly fans – plus, the presence of melancholy young vamps may win over moody teens.

The details Let The Right One In is at Dundee Repertory Theatre, from 5 to 29 June.