Past Press
Dead Broke (2024) at The Theatre Centre
Will King and Claire Shenstone-Harris in Dead Broke
"Dead Broke, written by Will King and presented by Lost Dreams Collective at the Theatre Centre, is an engrossing story of young adults that explores the tension between aspiration and survival – and does so with unnerving style, unexpected shifts in tone, and an inventively and appropriately austere aesthetic." Scott Sneddon, SeSayArts Magazine
"If you go: be prepared to howl with laughter and scream in terror — all in a single breath." Joshua Chong, Toronto Star
“This cast has amazing chemistry and they play so well off of one another, it makes the show the engrossing and thrilling experience it is.” “The tone of the design works so perfectly with the script, and being able to use the Incubator to its full extent elevates the production.” Janine Marley, View from the Box
"This show pulls off the theatrical horror with seeming ease: That’s reason enough to check it out for yourself.” Andrea Perez, Intermission Magazine
“This show was a runaway hit at the 2022 Toronto Fringe and has now come back for an independent run. Billed as a horror comedy, writer Will King has taken on a big task in Dead Broke. What is he going to bring to a genre that is already saturated with material? As it turns out, he has produced a script of promise with lots of surprising twists and turns. It’s a sweet homage to all that has come before.” “There is some solid acting and clever scary effects, including King’s own terrific sound design.” Paula Citron
DEAD BROKE (2022) at Toronto fringe
(L to R) Claire Shenstone-Harris, Gordon Harper, Will King, Courtney Keir, and Elle Reimer.
“King’s script brims with dark comedy and is exhilaratingly taut — the 60-minute play is filled with more twists and turns than you can count — without ever compromising character development.” "A must-see event for any fan of the horror genre." “Top Pick!” - Joshua Chong (Toronto Star)
"A naturalistic Gen Z drama meets a low-budget horror property in Will King’s fresh and inventive new play, one of the most pleasant surprises at the Fringe." "From the start, King and director Calvin Petersen do such a good job setting up Oliver’s situation – and the actors are so fully present in their roles – that you’re drawn in and care about what happens to everyone. The show is so effective that when a character looks out into the audience and mentions something on the wall, you’ll believe it’s there." "This is terrific theatre, full of committed, fresh performances." “NNNN” - Glenn Sumi (Now Magazine)
"Dead Broke is a tightly structured, fun horror story with some great plot turns and excellent practical effects." "King’s dedication to genre theatre is always a breath of fresh air and this is his most accessible work yet." “A-” grade! - Kelly Bedard (My Entertainment World]
“This play does a fabulous job at building suspense and then releasing it with laughter; this ebb and flow takes you on a twisty, other-worldly journey along with the characters that’ll have you on the edge of your seat!” - Janine Marley (A View from the Box)
“Dead Broke is a highly creative and fun first effort, making the Lost Dreams Collective one to watch this year and keep your eye on for what’s to come!” - Robyn Grant-Moran (Parton and Pearl)
“Absurdly glorious!” “Dead Broke really tickled me. It’s an ideal Fringe treat.”- Istvan Dugalin
“I was blown away by King’s first play From the Water in December 2018, amazingly good for a first play. This one is better… Every word counts.” “Totally enjoyable, very cool.” - Leslie Barcza