I dreamt you differently
“Passionate, raw, full of emotion – incredible acting too! Go & see it!”
“Stunning writing”
“It captured something raw… it was beautiful and felt so true to being judged constantly as a woman, daughter, artist.”
- IDYD audience members
Milk + Mallet’s first company-developed production with original songs, written by Abbey Gillett
London Previews: Camden People’s Theatre
24th & 25th July 2026
Edinburgh Festival Fringe: C aquila Studio
5th - 30th August 2026
Billy Mason, a self-made bar-snack tycoon, visits his soon-to-be pop star daughter Mariella in a strange hotel with dreams of his successful legacy. Celebration changes to suspicion and surreal turns in this exploration of ambition and love.
ABBEY GILLETT writer / mariella mason
Abbey Gillett wrote I Dreamt You Differently and plays Mariella. She trained at LAMDA. Her debut show Monobog was programmed at The Cockpit Theatre, London 2020.
In 2023 Abbey was nominated for an Off-West End Award for Lead Performance for her role as Hilde in Stray Dogs (Theatre503, London).
Abbey is an actor, writer and the founder of Milk + Mallet theatre company, alongside Elsa Strachan.
★★★★ ‘Supported by an excellent Abbey Gillett as a practical yet aspirational Hilde’ The Stage, Paul Vale (on Stray Dogs, Theatre503)
ELSA STRACHAN director
I Dreamt You Differently is directed by Elsa Strachan who grew up in the Scottish Highlands and trained at Rose Bruford College. She is Co-Founder of Milk + Mallet theatre company with Abbey Gillett.
Her directing credits include To Be You (Mercury Theatre, Colchester), Unwritten which she also co-wrote, (Aberdeen Performing Arts), The Last Keepers (theSpace, Edinburgh Festival Fringe), and Mum (Tramshed Theatre, London).
Elsa assistant directed plays at numerous venues including Watermill Theatre, Southwark Playhouse and Theatre503.
She also works as a visiting tutor and director at Arts Educational Schools London, Rose Bruford College, Kingdom Drama School, and Acting Coach Scotland.
★★★★½ ‘Elsa Strachan’s direction ensures that the key points of the story are highlighted. It’s enjoyable to see this young company pulling together’ - Reviews Hub (on The Last Keeper, Edinburgh Festival Fringe)
ANDREW PEARSON - WRIGHT BILLY
Andrew Pearson-Wright plays Billy; His theatre credits include The Mousetrap (West End, London), That’s Love (Theatre Royal, Lincoln and UK Tour), Haunting Julia (Mercury Theatre, Colchester and UK Tour), Never Ever After (Theatre Royal, Margate and Tour), and Death and the Maiden (MAC, Birmingham).
He has also appeared in numerous productions at The Mill at Sonning in Reading, including Spring and Port Wine, Guilty Secret, If I Were You, Two Into One and How the Other Half Loves.
Andrew is Co-Artistic Director of The Long Lane Theatre Company, for whom he co-wrote and starred in The Giant Killers, which debut at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, followed by two national tours. The play is currently being developed into a film.
Other future work includes The Actress, which tours from February 2027 and on screen, Andrew will appear in a series for Amazon directed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
★★★★★ ‘a wonderful dramatisation of a true story’ Edinburgh Theatre Guide (on The Giant Killers, Edinburgh Festival Fringe)
Lucinda is Deputy Head of Lighting at the Royal Court.
For Milk + Mallet: I Dreamt You Differently
For the Royal Court:
As Lighting Designer: Godots to do list
As Lighting Supervisor: The Shitheads, Guess How Much I Love You, Porn Play, The Unbelievers, Deaf Republic, 4.48 Psychosis, Scenes From a Repatriation, Manhunt, More Life, A Good House, Expendable, Giant, G
As Video Supervisor: John Proctor is the Villain, 4.48 Psychosis, After the Act
