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Dreamland is a British comedy television series based on Sharon Horgan's 2017 Sky Arts short Morgana Robinson's Summer. It premiered on Sky Atlantic with NOW from 6 April 2023.

Synopsis

Set in the British seaside town of Margate, three sisters are about to have their world turned upside down when their other sister suddenly returns.

Cast

Main cast

• Freema Agyeman as Trish
• Lily Allen as Mel
• Kiell Smith-Bynoe as Spence
• Gabby Best as Clare
• Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Leila
• Frances Barber as Cheryl/Mum
• Sheila Reid as Nan
• Samantha Bond as Orla
• Jamie Bisping as Sammy
• Eddison Burch as Jordan
• Hugh Coles as Dom
• Emily Barber as Eva
• Sam Fletcher as James
• Nigel Planer as Hamish
• Martina Laird as Diane
• Joy Richardson as Elizabeth
• Ed Macarther as Liam

Support cast

• Alistair Green as the Mayor
• Angela Sims as Simone Willmott
• Colin Hurley as Giant Rabbit man
• Charlie Coletta
• Dean Kirby as Barman
• Géraldine Chevalley as Photographer
• Guy Richardson as Delivery Man
• Halema Hussain as Doctor Pranto
• Hywel Simons as Doctor Bencoe
• Katy Poulter as Nurse
• Kevin Yates as Iona Muff
• Madeleine Bowyer as Doctor Yvonne Halcrow
• Nick Wilton as Doctor Beany
• Rose Johnson as Photographer
• Stephanie Fayerman as Sue
• Toby Longworth as Cabbie

Episodes

Production

Development

A television adaptation of Horgan's short was in development as of July 2019. Ellie Heydon serves as lead director. Dreamland is produced by Horgan and Celia Mountford's Merman Films in association with Sky Studios. Jane Bell produces, with Alex Moody of Sky as executive producer, and Emma Jane Unsworth was named showrunner and associate producer. Gabby Best, Sharma Walfall and Sarah Kendall joined Unsworth in the writers' room.

In June 2022, it was revealed Lily Allen would make her television acting debut in Dreamland. The following month, Freema Agyeman was announced as Allen's co-lead. Gabby Best, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, and Frances Barber would reprise their roles from Morgana Robinson's Summer. Also joining the cast were Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Sheila Reid; Samantha Bond would guest star.

Principal photography began on location in Margate, Kent in summer 2022. Among the locations used were the town's tidal pool, the Dalby Cafe, and the Winter Gardens. Allen was spotted on set in July. Filming also took place in London.

Reception

Rachel Aroesti in The Guardian remarked that "Stretched out over a series arc, Dreamland is a paler, flabbier and altogether sunnier proposition than the lean, mean, spiky short it is based on. Brutal naturalism is out, misty-eyed warmth is in" and awarded it three out of five stars. Isobel Lewis in The Independent also awarded three out of five stars.

References

1. Fletcher, Alex (22 March 2023). "Dreamland: Release date, cast and everything you need to know about Lily Allen's Margate seaside comedy". BT.com. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
2. "Dreamland Season 1 - Episodes Guide and Summaries". Next Episode. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
3. Parker, Robin (11 July 2019). "Sharon Horgan: 'Abandoning ideas feels like sacrilege'". Broadcast. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
4. ^ Yossman, KJ (15 July 2022). "Lily Allen, Freema Agyeman to Star in Sky Original Comedy 'Dreamland'". Variety. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
5. Richardson, Jay (10 June 2022). "Lily Allen stars in Sky comedy from Sharon Horgan". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
6. "Morgana Robinson's Summer: Dream Land". Merman. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
7. "Dreamland – Locations | Sky Atlantic | Sky.com". www.sky.com. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
8. McGroarty, Adam (14 July 2022). "Thanet: Lily Allen spotted filming in Margate for new Sky comedy drama Dreamland". Kent Live. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
9. Aroesti, Rachel (2023-04-06). "Dreamland review – Lily Allen's TV acting debut is nothing to write home about". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
10. "Lily Allen makes her TV acting debut in the brash, bold Dreamland". The Independent. 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-11-24.

External links

• Dreamland at IMDb

• 2023 British television series debuts
• 2023 British television series endings
• 2020s British sitcoms
• Television shows about human pregnancy
• Sky Atlantic original programming
• Sky UK sitcoms
• British English-language television shows
• Television shows set in Kent
• Television shows shot in Kent
• Sky UK comedy-dramas
• 2020s British comedy-drama television series
• Television series created by Sharon Horgan