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.
“Both of these scenes, and much of what happens in Dream School, offer 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 in the hopes that we have more moments in theatre in which we can explore and (more importantly) learn from tragedy.”
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)
Producers – Mrs C’s Collective and Space Productions
Writer – Francis Grin (she/her)
Director – Charlotte 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)
