The Dream of a Ridiculous Man at The Playground Theatre

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is a radical reimagining of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s famed short story, brought to life in a bold adaptation by Saulius Varnas. Directed by Varnas and starring Peter Tate (Picasso: Le Monstre Sacré, The Girl in the Green Jumper), this one-man production explores profound philosophical questions with imaginative staging and a haunting performance.

The play, part of the celebrated Voila! Festival, premieres as a work-in-progress. This year’s festival features a remarkably diverse lineup that showcases stories from across the globe and styles that stretch theatrical form. Audiences are invited into an array of experimental works and global perspectives, with The Dream of a Ridiculous Man as an ideal example of the innovative programming.

At the core of the production is Tate’s riveting performance as the suicidal narrator, who envisions a utopian Earth on a distant planet. Tate is genuinely captivating. Founder and artistic director of The Playground Theatre, Tate is also no stranger to the National Theatre or the West End, having performed multiple leading roles at the likes of the Almeida Theatre, as well as the Public Theatre in New York and several European theatres. This is why, when all of the external happenings stopped, he truly came to life. When he stood still, in the silence, with just a microphone and warm light focused on his face, reciting the story as narrator, this was when the audience’s imaginations were truly allowed to run wild and relax within the storytelling – this is when he shines brightest.  

In this adaptation, Tate’s “Ridiculous Man” slips between dreams and reality, drawing the audience into his surreal journey through powerful multimedia effects, including the use of works by Lithuanian artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. Čiurlionis’s abstract pieces serve as a fitting visual counterpart to the existential narrative, enriching the sensory experience of the performance.

Bonfire Night seemed like a fitting night to watch this performance, with the sound of distant explosions filling the theatre, accompanied by a large projection of neurones crossing synapses, a biological deep dive into the human brain on screen. This immersive and atmospheric backdrop was enhanced through the production’s striking use of sound design and lighting: within his “coffin”, a silhouette enclosing him on the stage floor, Tate’s character hears clawing, scratching and high-pitched screeches. The constant sound of dripping water also served as an auditory assault that conjured images of torment and isolation. This breaking point propels the narrator beyond his physical body, travelling through space and the cosmos, a transition enhanced by a projection of the Milky Way accompanied by an ethereal orchestration of strings and horns.

At its heart, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is an introspective journey that asks, “Who am I?” while also prompting the audience to reflect on their own sense of identity and purpose. But the production goes beyond existential musings to pose larger questions for society, evoking a lost innocence and yearning for a purer, more truthful existence beyond science, technology and organised religion.

In under an hour, the play weaves together themes of scientism, the origins of belief and the nature of the soul – pretty impressive, right? With its audacious vision, powerful central performance and rich audiovisual layers, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is a standout in contemporary theatre.

Olivia Gardener
Photo: Courtesy of The Playground Theatre

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is at The Playground Theatre from 2^nd until 9^th November 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.