Dream School
A new play by Francis Grin
Co-Produced by Mrs C’s Collective and Space Productions
When is a story ready to tell? Who wins and who loses when we ‘cash in’ on our trauma?
Inspired by a true story, DREAM SCHOOL is a thriller about a group of students who accidentally find themselves in a cult. When a student's father, Bobby, moves into the student halls, his charisma, care and knowledge are enticing. But as he drives the students towards self-improvement, boundaries become blurred and their safety is uncertain. A decade later, ex-student Betty assumes it’s safe to tell their story. But are they just one memory away from reliving it all?
DREAM SCHOOL is an exploration of the relationship between storytelling and trauma, asking the question, ‘when is a story ready to tell and how do we tell it?’. This project forms part of A Call for Safe Practice, a long-term ambition to provide accredited guidance and training on how to make trauma-informed art safely, made possible thanks to the University of Greenwich, Arts Council England and all those who have donated and supported us.
© Rosalind Alcazar Photography
© Rosalind Alcazar Photography
Cast
Celeste Iona Champain (she/her)
Tom Felix Kai (he/they)
Betty Jennie Eggleton (she/her)
Naomi Jahmila Heath (she/they)
Bobby/Mike Justin Butcher (he/him)
Alex/Client Charlie Cassen (he/him)
Creative Team
Producers Mrs C’s Collective & Space Productions
Writer Francis Grin (she/her)
Director Charlotte ‘Chaz’ Everest (she/her)
Composer and Sound Designer Jose Guillermo Puello (he/him)
Lighting Designer Ben Garcia (he/they)
Set and Costume Designer Caitlin Mawhinney (she/her)
Access Advisor Shona Louise (she/her)
Creative Psychotherapist Caroline Brindle (she/her)
Intimacy Director Abi Battersby (she/her)
Stage Manager Fiona Munro (she/her)
Assistant Stage Manager Daisy Parker (she/her)
Graphic Designer Meg Amirghiasvand (she/they)
Photographer and Videographer Rosalind Alcazar
Shadow Creatives
Aisa Nerva-Culley (he/they); Rosie Rose (she/her); Em Franks (they/them)
Reviews
“Dream School offers beautiful examples of safe, effective ways to depict trauma onstage. The piece presents a myriad of possibilities that I’m sure other artists will steal...”
— Always Time for Theatre “This is the epitome of a great thriller – shocking, intriguing, intense and uncomfortable. The storyline never falters, the characters are perfectly written and the performance is so gripping that the 1 hour and 45 minutes goes by in a flash..”
— Rated Reviewed“Dream School cleverly intertwines past and present events in its storytelling. If you can stomach the subject matter, the production will consume your thoughts afterwards”
— Kat Masterson Reviews
Dream School was featured in The Stage. You can read more about it here.
© Rosalind Alcazar Photography
© Rosalind Alcazar Photography