For many years, ‘Lords of Strut’ has been a household name. Be it from watching them in Fitzgerald park in Cork City winning the Laya Street Performers World Championship in 2013. Or from watching them grace our televion screens on Britain’s Got Talent in 2017. This comedic acro-dance duo took the world by storm and now they’re back with a brand new show ‘Dream Factory’ at The Everyman Cork this February. Circus Factory’s Artistic Director Cormac Mohally completes 50% of the duo so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ask him a few questions to learn more about the show!
Hi Cormac, let’s get right into it. Who are “Lords of Strut”?
Lords of Strut are the brainchild of Cormac Mohally and Cian Kinsella, and burst onto the Street Theatre scene in 2009. We used pretty basic circus acrobatic skills, and disguised them by prancing around as the world’s greatest dancers with outrageous outfits that were tight and bright. We have travelled the world with our Street Show, winning fans in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and twice performing in the Seychelles for whom we can only assume was a Prince and his Harem. In 2013, we won the Street Performance World Championship!
We started to make work for the stage, and after doing a spot in a London Cabaret, we were headhunted by Britain’s Got Talent, and in 2017 we got as far as the Live Semi-Final, where we walked away as the “underdogs that should of won”.
Lords of Strut are back! And with a brand new show! Can you tell us a bit about the show?
In 2017 Jenny Jenning’s from THISISPOPBABY inspired us, and directed us in making a theatre show for young people called “Absolute Legends”, where we looked at the impossibility of creating the perfect routine. It was a fantastic show that starred the two of us and toured both Nationally and Internationally. And when she asked us in 2019 ‘what would an ensemble Lords of Strut show look like?” the slow train of the “Dream Factory” began. We wanted to look at how the Climate Crisis can cause anxiety for young people, and create a show that told a fable in an exhilarating, heartwarming, and comically cautionary fable. It will be at the Everyman Cork Feb 18th and 19th AND is suitable for the whole family!
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Why will families love Dream Factory?
First of all, there’s a trampoline in the show! It also takes a light-hearted look at how we’ve gotten ourselves into a climate crisis and puts it in an outrageous outfit while doing a song and dance. Lords of Strut are all about the glitz of a show, getting the audience excited and just having a good old dance to some banging tunes. The Dream Factory is packed full of original music produced by Garry McCarthy from The Kabin Studios.
Is there anyone else in Dream Factory we should look out for?
In the cast, we have stunning singers, actors, dancers, aerialists, and trampolinists. We even have Muinteoir Ray leading our hand puppetry section, so every day is a school day in the rehearsal room.
What’s your favourite thing about Dream factory?
My favourite part is finally becoming a triple threat. I’m singing, dancing, and acting my socks off.
Can you share a behind the scene’s sneak peek?
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Finally, where can people get tickets to Dream Factory
You can get tickets from The Everyman Cork.