Review: Work While They Sleep – Alma Tavern Theatre
Neat sci-fi gem explores that late night social media ad which will change your life
Work While They Sleep is a Brazillian sci-fi horror exploring the impact of late stage capitalism, feminist themes and the commodification of sleep. It’s written by playwright Filipe Pereira and translated into English by Jenny Futuro.
The satire has similar themes to those seen in Black Mirror. A dystopian sci-fi storyline set in a future time very close to now. The overbearing march of tech into our lives. The moral that hangs in the air at the end, leaving the audience something to think over.
Though it’s not quite a body horror, it has stronger parallels to 2024 film The Substance. The pressure for women to meet the ever escalating societal demands upon them – in a world where they are pushed out in some way. In Work While They Sleep as with The Substance, this leads into the creation of an alter ego fighting against the original.
Erika Skyte is M. She has fallen asleep at her desk whilst working. Awaking now, she immediately launches into the long hard slog of the day ahead. She takes pride in her work, perfectly packaging items for customers, each carefully labelled with a flourish of perfume to finish.
But, the constant intrusion into her day from difficult customers and the constant ping ping ping of notifications becomes a challenge. The interface assessing the productivity of her workload and performance decline distracts. It eats into her entire day leaving her time for nothing else but sleep.
Utterly exhausted, she is easily lulled into one of those late night social media ads for a tutorial program. The ones that are selling you a lifestyle improvement. Ones that you know you can scroll away from but it uses every trick in the book to manipulate you at your weakest point to lull you in.
Using a soothing range of ASMR voice styles and AI generated – or at the least Canva created – photos of smiling corporate work teams, it’s not long until she has signed up to the SOLAR program. This allows her to carry on working whilst sleeping.
Much of the show is told through physical performance, repeated patterns of choreography which show order and chaos in turn. Erika Skyte does an excellent job through movement to establish when we are seeing M or the sultry W.
Initially, the work while you sleep program is effective. M’s productivity escalates leading to awards. But W starts to take over meaning M must fightback to reclaim her life. When trying to end the program it’s easier said than done.
On stage Jenny Futuro is narrator, a clever device seeing the role act not just as a narrator, but a narrative interface between humanity and tech.
The use of sound in the show is particularly effective. As well as a soundscape throughout, there’s also the use of the song You Belong To Me. Much like Black Mirror’s use of Irma Thomas Anyone Who Knows What Love Is, it’s manipulated into something that is nightmarish. You Belong To Me was originally recorded in 1952 With subsequent releases into the 60s, it doesn’t date the show to a particular time period.
Projections are another excellent feature of the show. The advertisement for the SOLAR program is hilarious with its spot on take of app and tutorial selling. It enhances the imposition of technology and at times becomes the third character on stage as it enacts self preservation in the face of destruction.
The show is a solid piece of theatre. It does feel like it would benefit from more development around the horrors that it unleashes, because the resolution comes slightly too quickly.
Overall, it is a very relevant piece of theatre that at times is very funny, perfectly performed by the two onstage actors and with smart and effective design.
Work While They Sleep will be at the Alma Tavern Theatre until 01 October 2026
For more information or to book, visit: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/almatheatrecompany/2320463
To follow the play on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/work_while_they_sleep_/
To follow the Alma Tavern Theatre on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almataverntheatre/
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