one4review | On 17, Aug 2025

“Dream Space” from Creative Group SSAK is a 50-minute, wordless voyage where nimble puppetry, live percussion and movement turn the stage into shifting worlds. It opens with a comic, hand-led wizard with a long beard and traditional robes, struggling to command a stormy sea made of human arms while a tiny model village trembles under flashing “lightning”. The scene then moves to a lovely designed desert island with a large ‘SOS’: a silly pelican puppet flies over, and we’re introduced to two castaway puppets who argue and play rock, paper, scissors to kill the time until a treasure chest promises freedom. The last set piece is a dreamlike scene with a glowing whale that glides in with flickering fish.

As an experience, it’s playful, tactile, and easy to follow, as there is no dialogue. The drumming adds something to the momentum; there are some clever touches with arms as waves and clouds as headpieces. Audience interaction, although brief, lands cleanly; the pelican’s cheeky “landings” get big laughs, and the storm sequence balances peril with slapstick. Yet conditions in The Crate at Assembly George Square matter: the small, container-like venue ran sweltering, with heat from the lights visibly wearing down focus for children and adults, especially during the gentle whale duet, which invites stillness rather than bustle.

The production’s strengths are clear: beautifully engineered puppets (the whales are a highlight), crisp manipulation by a tight ensemble, and musical storytelling that communicates across ages. Some tightening would help; we had a few people leave within the first 10 minutes. I’m not sure if this was the heat or the show, though. The ocean dance and whale play are a bit long, and although beautiful, they do linger. The dream logic occasionally blurs, and I was never truly sure what I was watching, although I enjoyed it all. With all that, the craft and warmth carry the show easily. For families and puppet fans, this is an imaginative, well-crafted spectacle that gives a childlike sense of play; in a cooler room, I bet it lands even better.

****

Reviewed by Matthew

Assembly George Square – The Crate

13.25 (50min)

Until 24 Aug (not 18)