The Machine of Horizontal Dreams at Sadler’s Wells East Review
Photo by Noémie Reijnen
Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
This production contains flashing/strobe lights and haze.
At Sadler’s Wells East, the line between dreams and reality becomes blurred and redefined in Pepa Ubera’s The Machine of Horizontal Dreams. What is real, what is dreams and how do we change our world through horizontal dreams?
At the show’s start, we see a cohesive group of dancers step forth into the space. Although the majority of the lines spoken and dancing is led by five dancers (Jay Yule, Elisabeth Mulenga, Yen-Ching Lin, Moronfoluwa Odimayo, Juliette Yasmine Mello), there are eighteen other dancers, mostly women, who represent a range of ages, body types, ethnicities and sexualities. They have been chosen from the London Contemporary Dance School at The Place, to members of Sadler’s Wells Culture Club and Posh Club * Dance Club Hackney. There are plenty of individual, small group and entire cast choreography that changes up often and dynamically.
The set is simple and minimalist. Several projector screens curve around the rounded staging area. Some chairs are provided throughout but the audience are encouraged to move, relax and join in a multitude of ways. With the plain black flooring and cosy warmth, the staging evokes the feeling of being ensconced within the womb to be shaped and rebirthed into new perspectives. Bobby León and Joey Holder’s videography beautifully captures the essence of an organic machine which is wholly primal and explorative of our minds and society. Joshie Harriette’s use of light and shadow powerfully transforms the space to be fully immersive and ethereal.
Based upon ecofeminist and post-humanist thought, and inspired by visionary writer and activist Adrienne Maree Brown, this show explores many deep topics including gender, racism, environmental catastrophes, the sense of self, moving away from western ideals of progress and centring around community cohesion and joy. It is ethereal, ineffable and deeply compelling. The descriptions of the dancers dreams and the different stages of the machine through multiple stages including rest, resist and crescendo to showcase many changes and ideals within the one hour running time.
Pierre Aviat’s music composition subtly veers between primal and futuristic sounds which can be felt throughout your entire body during the course of the show. Haunting and profound, it does evoke many natural sounds and visceral imagery. This show perfectly encapsulates the feeling of lucid dreaming and the magical possibilities in the liminal space where the conscious and unconscious mind meet. 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.
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. This is most highlighted when in the crescendo finale the lights flash and the audience is invited to dance with the cast in a joyful improvised centre before collapsing into one linked chain of human bodies. This is a powerful and utterly unique show which entices and demands you to fully live in the present moment. It is powerful, profound and deeply moving. The sense of connection, completeness and emotional fulfilment is strong and the audience left feeling empowered and in joyful appreciation of the world around you. If you enjoy boundary pushing art that refreshes the mind and soul then this is the show for you.
Running until 17th October at Sadler’s Wells East
★★★★
