A theatre and festival maker based in Dublin, Jennifer Jennings is co-creator of acclaimed Irish theatre company THISISPOPBABY. Recently teaming up with Cian Kinsella to work on something special for the upcoming Dublin Theatre Festival, her new show—titled Dream Factory by Lords of Strut—is a “comedy adventure circus musical sensation that might just change your life”.
The last thing I saw and loved… BLKDOG at Dublin Dance Festival had completely hypnotising choreography and some of the best lighting and sound design I’ve ever come across. The Abbey Theatre was full of young and new audiences for it too, which was exciting to see.
The book I keep coming back to… The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. I threw the book across the room at the end and sobbed dramatically. I’ve bought it as a gift for others countless times since.
I find inspiration in… I get almost all of my ideas either daydreaming while walking and listening to music or at Glastonbury.
My favourite film is… Requiem for a Dream. Dark, I know. And probably a little dated by now.
My career highlight is… there are so many highlights, so many anecdotes. One of my favourite moments is when Robyn played a secret set in the THISISPOPBABY tent at Electric Picnic in 2010, which myself and Philly McMahon ran. What a trip.
The song I listen to to get in the zone is… for zoning in, I would go full albums rather than singles. Music for the Jilted Generation by The Prodigy for cleaning; Burst Apart by The Antlers for romance; currently loving anything from Tourist for a bit of solace.
The last film I recommended is… Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest. Holy moly. Can’t stop thinking about it. The approach, the cinematography, the sound design, the script, the main performances, the scrutiny of the darkest side of human nature. Incredible.
I never leave the house without… sunglasses.
The piece of work I still think about is… Dublin by Lamplight from Corn Exchange. It was the first show I worked on professionally, firstly as an intern, then as company administrator. Director Annie Ryan remains one of the biggest influences on my own practice.
My dream role would be… I would love a crack at Artistic Director of a big opening ceremony someday.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten… “You might end up loving it or hating it, but it’ll be an adventure” – my mother to seven-year-old me when we moved to the States for a few years.
The art that means the most to me is… my favourite thing is spinning something out of almost nothing. The tiniest tendril of a provocation. For Dream Factory, the provocation for my fabulous colleague Cian Kinsella was, what would a Lords of Strut ensemble show look like? Now five years later, here we are.
My favourite moment in this show is… that this show is stuffed with hilarious and brilliant moments. We did a work in progress in the Everyman in Cork last year and there is a moment in the show where a raised stage is revealed to be a trampoline, and the audience goes nuts. That’s gorgeous fun.
The most challenging thing about being on stage is… I’m off stage, unfortunately, furiously scribbling notes. Looks like great craic up there though.
After a show I… oh, it all depends on how it went.
If I wasn’t doing this, I would be… a director and producer, which is what ended up happening.
The magic of theatre to me is… that it is an act of live co-creation in the room. The audience plays such an active role, and a piece doesn’t really come alive until it’s in front of other people. Pure magic.
Dream Factory by Lords of Strut plays at the Civic Theatre from Sept. 21 – Oct. 5 as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival. Photography by Johnny Savage.
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