Detention by Gary Clarke Company Review
Written by Emmie for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
This performance contains strobe lighting.
Detention is the third and final instalment in Gary Clarke’s trilogy of dance theatre works examining 1980s Britain and the struggles of marginalised communities under Margaret Thatcher’s government. While COAL spotlighted the decline of the mining industry and its impact on local communities, Wasteland delved into the bleak aftermath experienced by two generations following the closure of the Grimethorpe Colliery. Clarke has used his experience of growing up in a working-class community with Section 28 becoming the heart of this production — a harsh and covert piece of legislation that silenced the LGBT+ community, driving many into secrecy and shame.
Through a powerful blend of dance, narrative, music, and multimedia, Detention aligns perfectly with the other two works, which have already been presented. Five physically commanding and awe-inspiring dancers, Gavin Coward, Alexandra Bierlaire, Alex Gosmore, Mayowa Ogunnaike and Imogen Wright, intertwine with the ‘Community Cast’ of local LGBT+ individuals, Danabha Paul Johnson, Vicky Johnson, River Parker, Sarah Squires and Paul Wishart. Their lived experiences of Section 28 infuse the piece with authenticity and emotional depth, breathing real life into the work.
Detention is packed with powerful stories that expose audiences to a glimpse into what the community endured — from the stark reality of an HIV+ diagnosis to the way homophobia seeped into headlines, homes, and classrooms. True to Gary Clarke’s style, the production’s pace is relentless, with a carefully curated soundtrack and projections that hurl homophobic slurs and legislative jargon to visceral effect for audiences. The choreographic style of Gary Clarke and the Detention dancers infuses the piece with an incredible punch of energy and emotion, with a lot of transitions between solos, duets and group sequences that leave you in awe. Notably, the sections which carried the biggest impact were the ones which were danced to audio from the Switchboard (the national LGBTQIA+ support line) layered over them. Archie Books would present himself in the space as he painfully recounted these people’s experiences of living in this suppressed community.
What was probably the most striking element of Detention was its striking parallel between past and present. The piece used the final few moments to highlight how prejudice and misinformation continue to shape society’s attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ community. The Gary Clarke Dance Company have utilised their medium of dance to expose how the lingering impact of Section 28 and HIV - it holds a mirror to today’s world and allows for reflection on how far we still have to go.
As far as dance pieces of 2025 go, Detention will remain in the minds of those who witness how it confronts prejudice with power, precision and stunning poignancy. It’s a bold and unflinching production like no other!
★★★★★
