Dream Factory – Civic Theatre – Review

As part of the Dublin Theatre Festival

Dream Factory presented by Lords of Strut in association with The Civic
Photo Credit – Olga Kuzmenko

We meet Zack Murphy (Cian Kinsella), the CEO of Dream Factory at the start of the production. With the curtain still down, he walks out at the front of the stage and talks directly to the audience. He tells us that despite what we are about to see, he’s actually quite a nice guy! We are then plunged into the world of the Dream Factory, the largest corporation on earth that specializes in selling… ‘stuff’!

We meet Brida Spring (Aoife O’Sullivan) as she’s returning from Karate practice. Her mother (Ruth Berkeley) has great news! Despite his previous reservations, her father (Lachlan Chapman) is accepting a job with the Dream Factory. He’s to start immediately and it means they can now afford some exciting new ‘stuff’. As you would expect, all is not as it seems behind the doors of the Dream Factory, where a diabolical plan is in place, involving a giant sheep and something called ‘the great suction’!

This piece was created by the Lords of Strut along with the director Jennifer Jennings. The Lords of Strut are well known to Irish Theatre Audiences for their appearance in the THISISPOPBABY show Riot, along with their many solo shows. While the Lords of Strut are Cian Kinsella and Cormac Mohally, in this production, only Cian Kinsella appears.

The production features a large cast with a variety of talents. As it is a Musical, we get the obvious song and dance numbers. This production also features trampoline performers, acrobats, aerial gymnastics and puppets (by Ray Cuddihy), with a lost Bee searching for his hive.

It’s a lively and upbeat tale that tackles some difficult topics in a light and fun manner. I doubt it will convert many on the evils of climate change or consumerism but it does help remind us of our failings. The music is composed by Garry McCarthy, and I did leave the theatre singing some of the more bizarre tunes, with impressively catchy lyrics. This piece is aimed at audiences 8+ and would be ideal for the pre-teen market.  Some of the best scenes are in the Dream Factory itself, where we see the manic smiling faces of the employees, or those at home, lost in a daze consuming their endless products. It captures the madness of the modern age and our need to ‘buy-with-one-click’!

Directed by: Jennifer Jennings
Created by: Lords of Strut and Jennifer Jennings
Composed by: Garry McCarthy
Choreography: Deirdre Griffin
Set Design: Ellen Kirk
Lighting Design: Mark Galione
Costume Design: Sarah Foley
Cast: Ruth Berkeley, Lachlan Chapman, Ray Cuddihy, Kate Finegan, Joshua Frazer, Deirdre Griffin, Lauren Holohan, Cian Kinsella, Aoife O’Sullivan, Nat Whittingham
Arrangement & Additional Composition: Tom Beech
Associate Director: Liv Morris

Presented By: Lords of Strut in association with The Civic as part of Dublin Theatre Festival
Duration: 115 mins including interval
Suitable for  All Ages (8+ recommended)