The Team

We’re a small company doing work which we think is unique and which excites us. There is a diverse set of skills and experience in the team, not all of which fit neatly in the traditional theatrical or game design mould, but which through some alchemical process produce some species of magic!

  • Ivan

    FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

    I have lifelong obsession with horror, fantasy and science fiction. Especially early 20th century writing when a lot of the seeds for later works were planted.

    My career before starting down this path was large corporates, especially Telecoms. I’ve a couple of decades experience in process design, operations, business improvement and related areas. A few years ago following the death of my father during Covid I decided to completely change career and look to bring some delight and wonder into the world.

    So, we created the critically acclaimed immersive experience The Locksmith’s Dream. A strange blend of immersive theatre, overnight historic stay, narrative puzzles, fine dining and too many other things to mention!

    Now, I’m excited to take everything we’ve learned, and what our audiences loved and create something genuinely unique in the world of immersive experiences.

    “This might sound a bit mad, but hear me out…”

  • Laura

    LEAD WRITER

    I’ve had a lifelong love affair with horror, starting thanks to my cousin introducing me to Point Horror books as a child and watching many scary films with my mum. I often felt that I should have existed in a 19th Century gothic novel. Through my teens and early twenties my life revolved around performing arts until I stumbled into education.

    After being pulled in to work on Locksmith’s Dream, I fell back in love with writing. Creating Key of Dreams has been a dream job; it is a huge pleasure to stand on the shoulders of some of my literary heroes and bring their stories to life in a new immersive way.

    “Taxidermy isn’t as creepy as people make out!”

  • Leo

    ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

    I'm a writer and director for interactive theatre and opera, working from the Royal Opera House to a sheep-infested field. I love interactive theatre because, in a lonely 21st century, it's a great place for strangers to meet in a shared activity where they're the main characters. Weird fiction's sense 'nothing really matters' feels very modern, though I love it when contemporary cosmic horror believes in something. Usually "people matter to each other, even if not to the universe."

    I've been writer-director of interactive immersive shows from the cosmic/folk horror opera Come Bargain With Uncanny Things (2022) to the ritualistic Milton fanfic Paradise Craved (2023). I've also directed more traditional shows, with accolades including being a 2022 JMK Award Finalist, a 2022 Opera Awards Foundation Bursary recipient, and being longlisted for the 2019 Offie Award for Best Opera.

    Shoggoth liberation!”

  • Grom

    MORALE OFFICER

    Grom is originally from Portugal, and would be writing this entry himself, but he’s engaged in important work investigating the squirrels infiltrating his garden.

    He entered our lives because of a mis-remembered memory of the breed of dog Ivan had as a child.

    Suffice it to say, that he runs a tight ship when it comes to keeping people cheery and insisting on frequent mood-boosting walks.

    “Walk?”

Cast and Collaborators

The creation and production of something ;like The key of Dreams is a huge endeavour. We work with a range of professionals and consultants across mulktiple disciplines to create unique experiences:

Emily Carding (Performer), Matthew Wood (Performer, Writer), Dan Osbaldeston (Performer), Rik Sowden (Performer), Marianne Wilberforce (Performer)

Steve Arch (Electronics and Software), Kirsty Arch (Backstage, Props), Sarah Binney (Puzzle Design)

James Webster (Writing), Jonas Kyratzes (Writing, Narrative consultant)

Ben Reid (Sound design and composition)

Jonas Kyratzes, Alice Bloomer, Ellis Wells, Sidney Kean, Andrew Lennon, Maxine Dubois, Heather-Rose Andrews, Clare Evans, James Webster (voice acting)

Christian Thrower (Artist), Laura Langrish (Art)

Tom Garnett (Photography), Dominic Zeal (Chef, Catering Consultant, Performer), Bean Travis (Catering Consultant), Sam Brown (Chef), Nathan Toddington (Book design consultancy), Sam Pia Sulkin (Models)