What’s On.
A Treachery of Images
A Treachery of Images
A new solo double bill by critically acclaimed dance theatre maker John-William Watson.
A duo of works heavily inspired by Watson’s love of silent film, physical comedy and absurdist humour, this new evening of dance is a journey through the life of two surreal characters and their absurd relationships with (seemingly) inanimate objects.
With Watson’s ever present interest in the line between tragedy and comedy the two works transform from seemingly mundane, melancholic environments, to slap-stick, dreamlike worlds hued by anything from the work of Buster Keaton, to the golden-age of cartoons.
Why This Chair Does Not Exist
An impossible space, an impossible chair, in an impossible time.
In Watson’s first ever solo work they imagine a Buster Keaton-esque tragically comedic character, existing in a world one surreal step removed from our own.
Inspired by the works of surrealist painter René Magritte, they lace a simple proposition, a person and a chair, with existential ideas of consciousness. Exploring the nonsensical nature of life and death, through a lens of
absurd, silent film-esque humour.
In their continued collaboration with composer and sound artist Adam Vincent Clarke, Watson and Clarke craft a theatrical, surreal and cinematic landscape hued by the works of Bach.
Rules for Safe Lifting
“Looks and sounds simple enough, and it is, once you’ve got used to it! Let’s run through it one more time to make sure…”
In Rules for Safe Lifting, Watson creates an imagined reality of a lonely figure trapped within the confines of an old, overlooked health and safety poster. With their existence brought to life in a dark basement room, concrete clad and damp, our protagonist searches for companionship.
Scored by a broken radio, their only connection with the outside world, the lonely figure navigates their relationship with isolation, monotony and what to do when faced with the greatest inevitability of all.
This surreal, darkly-comedic, character portrait is Watson’s first full length solo work, exploring the bizarre life of a person who’s entire existence is based upon executing one simple task.
For the works premier in Leeds, Watson continues their collaboration with designer Joshua Cartmell, building a surreal utilitarian visual world for the work.
SHORTS
Three short, sharp, switched on pieces of dance by a new generation.
Three up and coming choreographers fill the stage with drama, dark comedy and design that shines, set to a mix of new music and classic hits.
Be swept along in the warm, soulful vibes of ‘Infinity Duet’, a performance that weaves together dance, sculpture, drawing and sound from choreographer Faye Tan and artist Cecile Johnson Soliz.
Connect with a trio of synchronised, silly and sublime dancers who move perfectly together to music of The Police and Bjork.
‘UN3D’ by Osian Meilir is a joyful watch that will leave you feeling totally in sync.
Laugh-out-loud with John-William Watson’s clever dark comedy ‘Hang In There, Baby’ set during the depths of a New Year’s work party where destiny and a series of bad decisions send the workers into an increasingly surreal spiral.
Dawns gyflym a chraff gan genhedlaeth newydd
Mae tri choreograffydd addawol yn llenwi'r llwyfan â drama, comedi dywyll a dylunio disglair, wedi'u trefnu i gyfuniad o gerddoriaeth newydd a chlasuron.
Dewch i gael eich swyno gan naws deimladwy a chynnes ‘Infinity Duet’, perfformiad sy'n plethu ynghyd dawns, cerfluniad, darluniad a sain gan y coreograffydd Faye Tan a'r artist Cecile Johnson Soliz.
Cysylltwch â thriawd o ddawnswyr cydamserol, gwirion ac aruchel sy'n cydsymud yn berffaith i gerddoriaeth The Police a Bjork.
Mae ‘UN3D’ gan Osian Meilir yn waith hyfryd i'w wylio ac a fydd yn eich gadael yn teimlo'n gwbl gytûn.
Chwerthwch lond eich bol gyda chomedi dywyll glyfar ‘Hang In There, Baby’ gan John-William Watson, wedi'i lleoli yng nghanol parti gwaith yn y Flwyddyn Newydd ac mae cyfres o benderfyniadau gwael yn arwain y gweithwyr i mewn i sefyllfa gynyddol swreal.
Rules for Safe Lifting | Extract
Rules for Safe Lifting began as an imagined reality of a lonely figure pictured within a health and safety poster in the depths of the basement at Sadler's Wells; of a man demonstrating how to lift a box correctly.
Hued by themes of loneliness, monotony and inevitably this surreal, darkly comedic, character portrait explored the bizarre life of someone whose entire existence is based upon executing one simple task.
A 20 minute extract of the new work will be shared at Light Space Leeds’ Scratch night alongside other works by an incredible lineup of local artists.
Ensemble de Trois
An evening of three dance works, by British choreographer and director John-William Watson. In Ensemble de Trois you are invited to take a journey through three stages of an artist and their artwork; through their first ever work, a piece of current repertoire and a new commission by Théâtre Basse Passière.
From a vividly nostalgic, micri-solo exploring new beginnings, created at the height of Watson’s adolescence, through a solo which part silent-film part character study explores our fragile relationship with life and death, to a highly musical, surreal duet scored to anything from Chopin to Tchaikovsky.
Comprised of three highly contrasting pieces, all set to works of classical music, the evening is a humorous exploration of the beauty of the past, the fragility of the present and the absurdity of the unknown; the future.
4X20 Choreography Platform
Pavilion Dance South West are delighted to present this unique 4×20 choreography platform in partnership with Messums Wiltshire, a pioneering centre for arts and creative endeavour.
This 4×20 platform commissions two emerging and innovative choreographers to present two 20 minute pieces of work, one pre-existing and one newly developed choreographic work with a maximum of 4 dancers. Hence 4×20!
The two choreographers selected for 2023 are Chandenie Gobardhan and John-William Watson. Each will perform strikingly different pieces with contemporary and nostalgia, mixed with tradition and humour. Premiering at Messums Festival of Dance this summer, this is one not to miss!
Why This Chair Does Not Exist
John-William Watson brings ‘Why This Chair Does Not Exist’ to London’s historic Bartholomew Fair.
East London Dance takes over New Street Square to present an entertaining live programme of stunning professional dance performances, shining a light on London's amazing dance talent from stage and screen. Everyone is invited to this hidden gem in the City, to enjoy spectacular dance performances and listen to soulful and uplifting music from local DJs. There will be a surprise performance at the end which will get everyone nostalgic for 90's parties. Let us make Thursdays the new Saturday and get the City dancing!