W I T N E S S
a new double bill from Company Chameleon
Manchester’s producing and touring dance company Company Chameleon uses an engaging and athletic vocabulary to tackle human and personal issues in insightful and often surprising productions of dance theatre.
Following their highly successful production and tours of Beauty Of The Beast in 2014-16, Company Chameleon brings their distinctive modern take on human relationships into fresh territory with a new double bill performed by five top notch dancers (Helen Andrew, Taylor Benjamin, Theo Fapohunda, Margarida Macieira and Kevin Edward Turner), Witness.
Originally created on Spanish company La Mov by joint Artistic Directors Anthony Missen and Kevin Turner in 2011, the first part of the double bill Words Unspoken takes a look behind the masks we wear, unveiling the psychological and emotional states we prefer to hide. Dynamic, brave and resonant, Words Unspoken is a physical representation of stories collected from the dancers - secrets, memories and events that they have concealed from the view of others.
Witness is also the title of the second part of the double bill, a new creation by Kevin Edward Turner. It is his first production since receiving a diagnosis for bi-polar in 2013. Using a highly physical movement language, text and humour, Kevin draws on his own emotional journey and the experiences of family and friends who witnessed his crisis to explore manic depression from the perspectives of both sufferer and onlooker. Witness aims to uncover beautiful, tender and funny moments alongside sad and painful aspects of this devastating disease – literally the highs and lows of having bi-polar.
“I had to interview my family to help me construct a timeline, because when I was very ill I hardly remember anything, or just flashes at best. Their interviews, their observations, feelings and experiences will help inform the work. Whilst this is a personal piece, I do not want the production to be self-indulgent. I want Witness to reflect a range of situations, some funny, some dark. Most importantly, the work is not just about the person suffering from mental illness; it also reflects the impact their condition has on their family and loved ones.”
Kevin Edward Turner
Press for Beauty Of The Beast
“Ferocious dance theatre” Guardian
“immensely strong performances, expressive characterisations and excellent dancing”. DanceTabs
“Anthony Missen steers this blend of theatre and dance with assurance” Londondance.com
“The athleticism and gymnastic ability on display is exhilarating”.
What’s On Stage
Timeline
Research April 2016
Creation, rehearsals production September-October 2016
Premiere October 2016
Touring October 2016 – March 2017.
Video
Promo for Words Unspoken performed by La Mov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOF-xyGMiDA
Rehearsal for Words Unspoken by La Mov https://vimeo.com/3679584
Programmers
Witness will be available to tour to theatres and arts centre with a performing area of 9m x 9m minimum (ideally 10m x 10m). A pre-rig is required.
Contact
Sarah Trist, Touring Consultant, Sarah Trist Dance Management Agency
07757 654790