In an innovative response to the challenges posed by the global pandemic, the Royal Irish Academy of Music's Vocal and Opera Faculty and the National Film School at IADT joined forces to transform the opera, DreamCatchr by Kevin O’Connell and Lily Akerman, into a captivating 50-minute film. The film will make its world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival on February 29th at 6:30 pm in Screen 1 of the prestigious Light House Cinema.
DreamCatchr, a new work from RIAM Head of Composition Kevin O’Connell to a libretto by Lily Akerman, was initially scheduled to premiere as a fully-staged production on the Peacock Stage at the Abbey Theatre in March 2020. Faced with the cancellation of the production due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kathleen Tynan, the RIAM Head of Vocal Studies and Opera, forged a creative collaboration with the National Film School at IADT to bring the story to life in a different medium.
The opera-turned-film delves into the blurred boundaries between dreams and reality, sisterhood, and selfhood in the ever-evolving technological landscape. The opera was filmed entirely on location and in studio at the IADT campus. Experienced opera and stage director Hélène Montague was joined by screen director John Comiskey to bring the stage production to the big screen. Conducted by Andrew Synnott, the all-female cast from RIAM features major roles for sopranos Megan O'Neill and Hannah O'Brien as the sisters Jane and Polly.
The collaboration between the Royal Irish Academy of Music's Opera Department and the National Film School at IADT brought together an exceptional team of talented individuals, resulting in a unique cinematic experience. The film's premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival promises to be a highlight of the event, celebrating the resilience and adaptability of the arts in the face of unprecedented challenges.
For more information on the Dublin International Film Festival and to book tickets, please visit www.diff.ie. To learn more about the National Film School at IADT visit https://iadt.ie/about/national-film-school/. To learn more about RIAM Opera, visit https://www.riam.ie/degrees-programmes/performing-opportunities/opera
CREDITS
Composer: Kevin O'Connell
Libretto: Lily Akerman
Directors: Hélène Montague and John Comiskey
Conductor: Andrew Synnott
Producer: Kathleen Tynan
Director of Photography (Location): Ciarán Tanham
Lighting Director (Studio): Andrew Leonard
Editor: Paul Heary
Score Audio Realisation: Jonathan Nangle
Set, Costume & Make-Up Design: Students from Design for Stage & Screen at IADT
Location & Studio Recording: Students from the National Film School at IADT
Sound Editor: Mariana Von Seckendorff
Sound Design: Mariana Von Seckendorff, Lance Hogan
Re-recording Mixer: Lance Hogan
CAST:
Jane: Megan O'Neill
Polly: Hannah O'Brien
CHORUS
Orlaith Mulholland
Rachel Murphy
Cerys MacAllister (Boss)
Louise Florence
Eílis Fox
Niamh Sheehy (Spoon)
Ellen Kelly (Canteen Waitress)
Laura Aherne
Sophie Bellamy
Orla Bruce
Anna-Maria Husca
Stephanie Kinsella
SYNOPSIS
The opera deals with the relationship between two sisters, Jane and Polly, who live together in an apartment. Jane works in IT as a coder, creating computer software. Polly works in Real Estate. Jane has become addicted to technology and social media and is obsessed with developing a computer application to capture her dreams – DreamCatchr – little by little she creates her own pixelated reality which Polly can’t enter.
The opera takes place in an intermediate world between mundane reality and fantasy, as the characters attempt to understand one another and the different world that technology has created for all of us. Alternately comical, bizarre and disturbing DreamCatchr explores the borders between dreams and waking life, sisterhood and selfhood.
The composition of DreamCatchr was supported by an Arts Council of Ireland Project Award.