Hofesh Shechter’s Theatre of Dreams, Sadler’s Wells Review
Photo by Tom Visser
Reviewed by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
At Sadler’s Wells, the line between dreams and reality becomes blurred and redefined in Hofesh Shechter’s Theatre of Dreams. At the show’s start, we see a single dancer confusedly jumping onto the stage before crawling under a small gap in the curtains.
Unveiled before us are thirteen dancers who enact dozens of small snippets of vivid dreams and occasionally nightmares. From the nightmare of appearing naked on stage becoming a reality for one dancer to ecstatic Neanderthals celebrating a successful hunt, we also see dancers in various forms of dress and undress on stage as they move constantly in frenetic, shifting connections. The themes are euphoria, fear, and blurring the lines between the primal and societal sections within our minds.
The use of multiple stage curtains throughout both closing and opening on the dancers and revealing and concealing the differing parts of the stage feels akin to travelling through the different stages of unconsciousness and walking along the hidden paths to dreamland. Tom Vizzer’s excellent lighting design works well with the choreography to make the scenes seem even more transcendent and it at times feels like an art house cinema film or a timeless classic from the golden age of Hollywood.
For a show about dreams, it reminds me to ground myself in the present moment more than anything else. The dancers move so joyfully and there is heavy emphasis on the sheer pleasure of being alive in movement. The influence of Gaga’s movement practice is clearly evident and results in the show being a triumphant celebration of life and what all the dancer’s bodies can achieve. This is most highlighted when halfway through the lights go up and the front row is invited to dance with the cast, shortly followed by the entire audience joining in with gleeful joy.
This is one of the most unique dance shows I have ever seen. With all the changeable elements, it will be a fresh experience every night, regardless of whether you’ve seen it before and a brilliantly exciting time each performance you see. If you enjoy transcendent, joyful performances that make you laugh and gasp in sheer wonder and excitement whilst exploring the psyche itself through dance then I recommend this show for you.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
