New drama makes political stand inspired by Shock Doctrine at Slung Low’s HUB
Hot off Edinburgh Fringe, Dumbshow are presenting Electric Dreams at Slung Low’s HUB on Sunday (11 October 2015) a new production that explores if we’re a nation in shock.
Electric Dreams tells the story of Rose who doesn’t remember her early years, and meets a man who might know why. Set in a Library, this new production draws attention to how communities can lose everything unless they fight for what they want. Inspired by Naomi Klein’s ‘The Shock Doctrine,’ Electric Dreams uses the idea that we can be shocked and ‘brain washed’ into reacting in ways which might benefit governments.
Dumbshow’s trademark storytelling style combines with urgent contemporary issues in Electric Dreams. This new production is a vibrant, unsettling and bold examination of the state of the nation explored through a human story, a love story.
Rose can’t remember the first 18 years of her life. Seeking to unravel this mystery she pieces together her history from fragmented memories, documents and dreams. Aided by staff in a soon-to-be-closed library, can Rose’s story wake us all up?
Using live music composed and performed by Rollo Clarke, and video projection, Electric Dreams journeys from 1950’s Canada to the Iraq war to the present day where standing up to a library closure in the UK can have you labelled a domestic extremist.
Director, Michael Bryher said “Dumbshow is making a stand. We want to be part of a political debate about what kind of country we want to be, because if we don’t, soon it might be too late.
“In The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein challenges the myth that over the past decades free-market capitalism triumphed across the globe democratically, and considers whether often its advancements have been forced on populations unwittingly when they were too shocked or distracted to realise what was happening. The Shock Doctrine was published in 2007 before the financial crisis. Dumbshow are applying Klein’s ideas to a post-financial crash Britain. Was Britain in a state of shock in 2008?
“We’ve been exploring this question, which has made us question Klein’s thesis as well as our own ideas and values, and it is a question that we are still trying to answer. Electric Dreams certainly feels like the most political piece we have made, forged in the fires of anger at the current political situation. We want our audiences to reconsider both where we’ve come from and where we’re going. But we are still asking questions – and I suppose that’s the point.”
Slung Low Theatre is based at 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck, LS11 9UA.
There is a very limited capacity so to reserve a ticket please email boxoffice@slunglow.org with the number of tickets you wish to reserve and a contact telephone number.
Tickets will be “Pay What You Decide” which means you will pay the company AFTER the show.
