When they're not starring in the popular Body Brothers on RTEjr, Cian Kinsella and Cormac Mohally are busy being one of Ireland's most beloved comedic performance duos, the mighty Lords Of Strut.
Below, Cian introduces their latest theatrical extravaganza, a family musical with a message entitled Dream Factory, coming to the Everyman in Cork this February.
We are about to go curtains up at The Everyman Theatre, Cork, on our big dream show, the last few days before opening a show are always both nerve racking and exciting. This is a preview version for 2 shows only, before the show goes into full production in 2024. It has been 3 years in the making and it is ready for an audience!
After 15 years of Lords of Strut being a double act, this is the first time we are making a show with an ensemble! We have assembled an extremely talented group of dancers, acrobats, actors and musicians to make a Lords of Strut Action Adventure Musical. Yes an ensemble and a musical, new territory for us Strut boys but honestly the most fun show we have put together. It is absolutely whooper, packed with dance, circus, physical routines and has banging original songs, thanks to GMCBeats from the Kabin Studios in Cork.
Dream Factory is full of action, and big glitzy routines but it is also a heartwarming and cautionary fable that addresses issues around the climate crisis for a family audience.
I make silly, funny shows that entertain and maybe provoke people. Surely it couldn't be impossible to make a show that also addressed the main issue of our time?
The story follows the adventures of a young girl: Breada Sparrow lives in the town of Ballyplastic, where all the citizens have been brainwashed by a greedy corporation and its giant genetically-modified sheep boss. Our hero has to save her family, save the town and possibly the world from the sinister plans of the Dream Factory...
This is the most serious comedy work we have done, but it is still very much a comedy - with lines like "Stop dance panicking" and "The Bee is right" it would be impossible to say them earnestly!
The topic is serious, however; we hear about the climate crisis all the time, not enough but also too much. Young people are very clued in on this subject, more than a lot of the generation running things.
With our long-time collaborator and director Jenny Jennings we had some creative sessions around Lords of Strut with an ensemble cast, it was all very exciting and we were full of ideas but what kept coming up was what we really needed to do. We had to make a show for younger audiences that addressed the climate crisis. As artists we just needed to, and we are being supported by the Arts Council of Ireland to make this early version of the show.
The climate crisis, and the biodiversity crisis are overwhelming... what are we meant to do about it? Half the things we do seem absolutely useless in the face of such a massive challenge. Personally I try to live a low impact lifestyle, grow a lot of my own food, make conscious choices about transport, what I buy, where my money is spent. Those are all important but not enough.
I want to do more, march, shout, sing, cry, because we are watching the destruction of the planet!
So as stupid as this sounds I wrote a musical about it, yes, a song and dance to do something about climate change. I make silly, funny shows that entertain and maybe provoke people. Surely it couldn't be impossible to make a show that also addressed the main issue of our time?
Dream Factory is a show for all the family, we hope there are enough funny bits for the younger ones, there definitely are for the adults, but the story is aimed at the 8-13 age range.
The show really is a comical reflection of our world, the reality of living in a highly advanced and destructive culture. We hope it raises awareness, encourages action and gives hope. And did I say it's a musical? And has a massive trampoline! And is pretty much the most exciting project I've ever worked on!
Dream Factory is at The Everyman, Cork, on Feb 18th & 19th 2023 - find out more here.
