Photos: Matthew Bourne’s Play Without Words
July 17, 2012
Production Photos: Matthew Bourne’s Play Without Words
As part of New Adventures’ 25th anniversary celebrations, Britain’s favourite choreographer presents a revival of his modern classic Play Without Words at Sadler’s wells Theatre.
Chelsea, 1965. Behind the privileged façade of domestic social order lies a struggle for power, territory and sexual domination. In a suave Chelsea home an urbane master and his beautiful fiancée welcome their new manservant, Prentice. What follows will change their lives forever. Sexy, chic and thrillingly original, this dance drama is a spellbinding carnival of seduction, intrigue and power.
Returning for its first revival as part of New Adventures 25th anniversary celebration, Matthew Bournes Play Without Words was a critical and popular success when it was first produced by the National Theatre in 2002. It now makes its debut at Sadlers Wells in a strictly limited four week season. Designer Lez Brotherston and lighting designer Paule Constable repeat their Olivier-nominated work and Terry Davies acclaimed jazz influenced score will be played live at all performances.
Play Without Words won the 2003 Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Theatre Choreographer.
Photos by RoyTan.
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Sadler’s Wells
January 5, 2012
Sadler’s Wells is the UK’s leading dance house, dedicated to bringing the very best international and UK dance to London. Sadler’s Wells’ has been a place of entertainment for over 300 years, ever since a Mr Dick Sadler opened his ‘musick house’ in Islington in the 1680s. The brand new Sadler’s Wells theatre opened in October 1998.
See all SADLER’S WELLS productions this season
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Photos: Matthew Bourne celebrates 25 years with More4 film this Christmas
December 20, 2011
Photos: Matthew Bourne celebrates 25 years

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. Photo: Roy Tan
Hard to believe but Matthew Bourne, one of the world’s great choreographers, is about to celebrate his 25th anniversary.
Through his Adventures in Motion Pictures and New Adventures companies he has created a wealth of magical dance productions that have fast become classics. His creations range from new interpretations of dance standards including Swan Lake, Cinderella and The Nutcracker, to acclaimed new work such as Play Without Words and Edward Scissorhands.
This Christmas Bourne’s incredible career will be celebrated on More4 as the broadcaster airs “Matthew Bourne’s Christmas” on 25th December at 9pm. Conceived by Bourne, the film promises to present a distinctive new way of presenting dance on screen.
Also this Christmas sees the return of Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! to Sadler’s Wells for a limited seven week run to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
And with projects coming up including his new production of Sleeping Beauty for Christmas 2012 at the Wells and a “super-production” of his Lord of the Flies ballet at Sadler’s Wells in 2013 featuring male amateur performers from around the UK, Bourne shows no sign of slowing down.
Our official photographer, Roy Tan, has documented Matthew Bourne’s career for many years. Here he shoots the filming of Bourne’s Christmas special for More4.
Photos by Roy Tan
LINKS
More4 website: Matthew Bourne’s Christmas
Book tickets to Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker at Sadler’s Wells
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Photos: Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker at Sadler’s Wells
December 10, 2011
Production photos of Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London.

Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker at Sadler's Wells. Photo: Roy Tan
How can it be that Matthew Bourne has been adding much needed dance sparkle into our lives for 25 years?!
Through his Adventures in Motion Pictures and New Adventures companies he has created magical productions of some of the best known dance classics including Swan Lake, Cinderella and The Nutcracker.
And this Christmas sees the return of Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! to Sadler’s Wells for a limited seven week run to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Tchaikovsky’s glorious score and Anthony Ward’s imaginative sets and costumes combine with Bourne’s inspired choreography to create a fun and irreverent take on this Christmas favourite.
Also this Christmas More4 will air “Matthew Bourne’s Christmas” on 25th December at 9pm. Conceived by Bourne, the film promises to present a distinctive new way of presenting dance on screen.
And with projects coming up including his new production of Sleeping Beauty for Christmas 2012 at the Wells and a “super-production” of his Lord of the Flies ballet at Sadler’s Wells in 2013 featuring male amateur performers from around the UK, Bourne shows no sign of slowing down.
Photos by Roy Tan
LINKS
Book tickets to Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker at Sadler’s Wells
More4 website: Matthew Bourne’s Christmas
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Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! tickets at Sadler’s Wells
July 10, 2011
Matthew Bourne’s spectacular and much-loved production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker returns to Sadler’s Wells this Christmas.
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FELA! Cast Confirmed at Sadler’s Wells
June 9, 2011
Olivier and Tony Award-nominated actor Sahr Ngaujah leads the cast of FELA! at Sadler’s Wells’ this summer, joined by Melanie Marshall as Funmilayo Kuti and Paulette Ivory as Sandra Izsadore.
A provocative hybrid of dance, theatre and music, exploring the extravagant, decadent and rebellious world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical runs at Sadler’s Wells from 20 July to 28 August 2011.
Ngaujah, Marshall and Ivory reprise their roles in FELA!, Ngaujah having most recently led the cast for the landmark performances of FELA! in Lagos, as well as at the National Theatre in 2010. During its run at the NT, the show received three Olivier Award nominations, including one for Sahr Ngaujah as Best Actor in a Musical.
Ngaujah originated the role of Fela Kuti Off-Broadway and transferred with the show to Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His film and TV credits include Passing Glory, A Lesson Before Dying, The Signal, Stomp the Yard and Blood Done Sign My Name. He is currently art director for the Sierra Leone hiphop act Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew.
Paulette Ivory originated the role of Nala in the West End production of The Lion King and was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for her role in the US National Tour of Aida. Melanie Marshall has appeared in Simply Heavenly, Porgy and Bess, Fame, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Kiss Me Kate in the West End.
Adesola Osakalumi plays Fela Kuti at certain performances throughout the run and understudies Sahr Ngaujah. He previously understudied the role of Fela Kuti in New York. His other credits include Equus on Broadway, and Jam on the Groove, for which he was nominate for a Drama Desk award.
Also joining the cast of 25 are Ismael Kouyate, Gelan Lambert, Talu Green, Iris Wilson, Nicole DeWeever, Cat Foster, Cindy Belliot, Aimee Wodobode, Nandi Bhebhe, Pundo Gomis, Catia Mota Da Cruz, Sherinne Anderson, Jacqui Dubois, Wanjiru Kamuyu, Jill Marie Vallery, Oneika Phillips, Ryan Rankine, Jermaine Rowe, Thierry Picaut, Justin Prescott and Jonathan Andre.
The cast at Sadler’s Wells combines companies from both the award-winning Broadway and National Theatre productions of the show. Ahead of their six week run at Sadler’s Wells, the cast will perform at Latitude on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 July.
Featuring many of Fela Kuti’s most captivating songs and Bill T Jones’s visionary, award-winning staging, FELA! reveals Kuti’s controversial life as an artist and political activist and celebrates his pioneering music.
Recognised as an icon in the international world of rock and roll, soul, jazz and hip-hop, Fela Kuti combined elements of traditional Yoruba, high life and jazz, giving rise to “Afrobeat”. Through his music he condemned military regimes in Nigeria. He was arrested more than 200 times and beaten savagely on many occasions. Despite this he continued to live in Nigeria and produced more than 70 albums during his career.
FELA! was choreographed, directed and co-written (with lyricist Jim Lewis) by Bill T. Jones, a leading light in American contemporary dance. Jones choreographed and performed worldwide as a soloist and duet company with his late partner, Arnie Zane, before forming the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company in 1982. The company last performed at Sadler’s Wells in 2004.
Jones’ awards include the 2007 Tony Award, the 2007 Obie Award and 2006 Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Callaway Award for his choreography for Spring Awakening and the 2006 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreography for The Seven.
FELA! received its world premiere Off-Broadway in September 2008, where it won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical, before transferring to Broadway’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre in November 2009 where its accolades included three 2010 Tony Awards®, for Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, and an Astaire Award for Bill T. Jones’ choreography.
FELA! is directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, and music and lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, the design and Tony Award winning costumes are by Marina Draghici, lighting design by Robert Wierzel and the Tony Award winning sound design by Robert Kaplowitz.
FELA! is produced in association with Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, Slava Smolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glazer, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment and with Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson.
“The dancing is ecstatic, the music lifts the spirits and the stage is alive with movement” The Guardian
Release issued by: Sadler’s Wells press office
LINKS
Book tickets to FELA! at Sadler’s Wells in London
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Sadler’s Wells Brings The Full Cast Of Fela Kuti Musical To Latitude
June 6, 2011
The UK’s leading dance house, Sadler’s Wells, returns to Latitude Festival for the fourth time on Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 July 2011 with a diverse programme of dance on the Waterfront Stage.
Sadler’s Wells presents a programme for Latitude’s Waterfront Stage that reflects both the theatre’s reputation for presenting world class dance in all its forms, and Latitude’s diversity. The Sadler’s Wells line-up features highlights from the full cast of Broadway’s sensational Tony award-winning hit musical, FELA!; two celebrated British companies – hip hop dance from ZooNation Dance Company and contemporary dance from Rambert Dance Company; as well as a UK premiere that fuses dance and music.
Sadler’s Wells Artistic Director and Chief Executive Alistair Spalding comments: Latitude Festival continues to provide us with a platform to present dance to a wider audience beyond our theatre. We are delighted to be returning to thebeautiful surroundings of the Waterfront Stage for a fourth year with an exciting and varied programme of dance which will appeal to all Latitude goers and dance enthusiasts alike.
On Sunday 17 July, FELA!’s full cast of 25 performers, will be lead by Olivier Award-nominated Sahr Ngaujah, who returns to the title role at Sadler’s Wells this July, having garnered acclaim for his portrayal of Kuti in New York, Lagos and London.
Sadler’s Wells Producer Emma Gladstone says: “I’m thrilled that for our fourth return to Latitude, we’re able to present our most ambitious line-up to date. 25 performers from the smash hit show FELA!, which celebrates the life of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, will wow the audience at Latitude ahead of their six-week run at Sadler’s Wells this summer.”
The Sadler’s Wells’ summer show features many of Fela Kuti’s most captivating songs and Bill T Jones’s visionary staging and choreography, revealing Kuti’s controversial life as an artist and political activist through his pioneering music.
Recognised as an icon in the international world of rock and roll, soul, jazz and hip-hop, Fela Kuti combined elements of traditional Yoruba, high life and jazz, giving rise to “Afrobeat”. Through his music he condemned military regimes in Nigeria. He was arrested more than 200 times and beaten savagely on many occasions. Despite this he continued to live in Nigeria and produced more than 70 albums during his career.
On both days the programme features an extract from Sadler’s Wells Resident Company ZooNation’s brand new work, Some Like It Hip Hop. With a nod to Billy Wilder’s much loved film Some Like It Hot and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Some Like it Hip Hop is a comical tale of love, mistaken identity, cross-dressing, gender stereotypes and revolution; all played out in ZooNation’s trademark style of hip hop, comedy and physical theatre. This is the company’s first full-length production since the award-winning West End smash hit, Into the Hoods.
Directed by ZooNation founder and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Kate Prince, with original music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, the cast includes Tommy Franzen and Lizzie Gough from So You Think You Can Dance, and Teneisha Bonner (StreetDance 3D, Shoes). Some Like It Hip Hop makes its world premiere at the Peacock Theatre in London from Thursday 20 October – Saturday 19 November 2011.
The programme for both days also presents Tommi Kitti’s A Trip. Originally premiered in 1995 as a solo for Kitti it has been reworked as a duet and makes its UK Premiere at Latitude Festival. Performed to the music of American blues singer-songwriter John Lee Hooker, A Trip has been chosen for its appeal to both music and dance fans; a perfect piece to fit the ethos of Latitude Festival.
“One interesting thing in Hooker’s music is that it does not go anywhere. It creates a moment in which emotionally you go deeper and deeper. For me it is very dramatic, even though there is no drama happening. It is a trip in a second.”Tommi Kitti
Concluding Saturday’s line up is the Olivier Award-winning Rambert Dance Company, which celebrates its 85th anniversary this year. For Latitude the Company performs a new Rambert commission; Tim Rushton’s Monolith. Artistic Director of Danish Dance Theatre for 10 years, British-born Rushton returns to the UK to create his first piece for a British dance company, inspired by mystical energies that haunt sites of man-made gathering places.
Release issued by: Sadler’s Wells press office
LINKS
Book tickets to FELA! at Sadler’s Wells in London
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FELA! Comes to Sadler’s Wells this Summer
April 21, 2011
“There should be dancing in the streets. There has never been anything like this.” New York Times
Sadler’s Wells’ summer show for 2011 is the Tony Award-winning Broadway dance musical FELA!. A provocative hybrid of dance, theatre and music, exploring the extravagant, decadent and rebellious world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, the production runs at Sadler’s Wells from 20 July to 28 August 2011.
Leading the cast is Olivier Award-nominated Sahr Ngaujah, who returns to the title role, having garnered acclaim for his portrayal of Kuti in New York and London. Featuring many of Fela Kuti’s most captivating songs and Bill T Jones’s visionary staging, FELA! reveals Kuti’s controversial life as an artist and political activist and celebrates his pioneering music.
Recognised as an icon in the international world of rock and roll, soul, jazz and hip-hop, Fela Kuti combined elements of traditional Yoruba, high life and jazz, giving rise to “Afrobeat”. Through his music he condemned military regimes in Nigeria. He was arrested more than 200 times and beaten savagely on many occasions. Despite this he continued to live in Nigeria and produced more than 70 albums during his career.
FELA! was choreographed, directed and co-written (with lyricist Jim Lewis) by Bill T. Jones, a leading light in American contemporary dance. Jones choreographed and performed worldwide as a soloist and duet company with his late partner, Arnie Zane, before forming theBill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company in 1982. The company last performed at Sadler’s Wells in 2004.
Jones’ awards include the 2007 Tony Award, the 2007 Obie Award and 2006 Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Callaway Award for his choreography for Spring Awakening and the 2006 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreography for The Seven.
FELA! received its world premiere Off-Broadway in September 2008, where it won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical, before transferring to Broadway’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre in November 2009 where its accolades included three 2010 Tony Awards®, for Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, and an Astaire Award for Bill T. Jones’ choreography.
FELA! is directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, and music and lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, the design and Tony Award winning costumes are by Marina Draghici, lighting design by Robert Wierzel and the Tony Award winning sound design by Robert Kaplowitz.
FELA! is produced in association with Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, Slava Smolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glazer, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment and with Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson.
“The dancing is ecstatic, the music lifts the spirits and the stage is alive with movement” The Guardian
Press night: Tuesday 26 July 2011 at 7.30pm
Release issued by: Sadler’s Wells
LINKS
Book tickets to FELA! at Sadler’s Wells in London
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Sadler’s Wells Announces Sylvie Guillem World Premiere
March 18, 2011
Sadler’s Wells is delighted to announce the world premiere in July 2011 of a mixed programme devised and performed by internationally acclaimed dancer and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Sylvie Guillem.
Widely recognised as one of the world’s greatest dancers, Sylvie Guillem stars in a new evening of work by three of today’s most important choreographers; Mats Ek, William Forsythe, and Jiří Kylián. Tickets for the world premiere of this mixed programme at Sadler’s Wells are on sale from 10am on Monday 21 March 2011.
Sadler’s Wells Artistic Director Alistair Spalding says “Sylvie’s stellar career has defied the usual conventions, taking a thrilling turn with contemporary dance, and this mixed programme continues our partnership with her which has developed through collaborations such as PUSH and Eonnagata. A project of this kind is complex to pull off so I’m delighted to have enabled this new evening of work from four of the most respected artistic forces in dance today.”
For this Sadler’s Wells / Sylvie Guillem production, William Forsythe creates a new duet for her andParis Opera Ballet étoile Nicolas Le Riche, with a commissioned score by David Morrow. Commissioned by Sadler’s Wells, the iconic dance-maker works with Guillem again following his now legendary In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated,createdon her in 1987 at Paris Opera. This duet is the fourth work he has created for her, preceded by France/Dance, In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, and Firstext.
As an American working internationally for the last 35 years, William Forsythe is considered one of the world’s foremost choreographers. His work has received over 40 awards including three Oliviers, four Bessies and an Evening Standard Award.
Also at Guillem’s request, acclaimedSwedish choreographer Mats Ek creates a new solo for her, set to Beethoven’s last piano sonata. The fourth collaboration between Ek and Guillem, commissioned by Sadlers Wells follows Wet Woman for television, the duet Smoke for Guillem and Niklas Ek, and the title role of Carmen staged by Mats Ek at The Royal Ballet in London; a work he originally created for the Cullberg Ballet.
The playful title Ajö (Bye) is described by Ek as being “… about a woman who takes leave of a certain stage in her life. It is a conversationthat she has with herself that leads to new experiences.” Ajö features interactive video by set and costume designer Katrin Brännström. It was previewed in Stockholm in December 2010 and described as a “masterpiece” by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writerWiebke Hüster.
Guillem also invites Jiří Kylián, another choreographer that she has worked with many times in her career, to contribute a new work for her. In response, Kylián has chosen to create a film, the medium that has fascinated him particularly through his previous collaboration with the film maker Jason Akira Somma, with whom he worked as a Rolex mentor. Kylián and Somma’s film, featuring Guillem and Sabine Kupferberg, completes the evening along with a duet from Kylián’s work 27’52” performed by dancers handpicked by the choreographer.
Jiří Kylián has created nearly 100 ballets to date, primarily for Nederlands Dans Theater where he was Artistic Director from 1975-1999, but also for companies including Stuttgart Ballet, Paris Opéra, Tokyo Ballet and the Bayerisches Staatsoper München.
A Sadler’s Wells / Sylvie Guillem Production
Co-produced by Holland Dance Festival with support from Dansenshus Stockholm
Release issued by: Sadler’s Wells
LINKS
Sadler’s Wells on WestEndTheatre.com
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Sadler’s Wells And Barbican Present Unprecedented Pina Bausch Season In 2012
March 10, 2011
Two of the world’s leading cultural organisations, Sadler’s Wells and the Barbican Centre are collaborating for the first time to present an unprecedented season of 10 works by one of the most influential choreographers in dance, Pina Bausch.
The month-long season of international co-productions performed by Tanztheater Wuppertal at Sadler’s Wells and the Barbican in summer 2012 marks a fitting celebration of the Olympic and Paralympic year’s global focus. Seven of the 10 works are UK Premieres. Tickets for the whole season of works are on sale from Monday 9 May 2011.
For Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch: World Cities 2012 Sadler’s Wells has, in association with Cultural Industry and the Barbican, with thanks to Wuppertal, North Rhine Westphalia and Arts Council England, commissioned the first ever continuous season of productions by the late Pina Bausch and her company. Running from 6 June to 9 July 2012, the season features 10 international co-productions exploring 10 global locations; India, Brazil, Palermo, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Budapest, Istanbul, Santiago de Chile, Rome and Japan. Full listings details are below.
Embarked upon by Bausch in 1986, the landmark series of international co-productions were created at the invitation of specific global cities. Living in each city for a period of time, her renowned multinational company would then return to Wuppertal to create a new work inspired by their visit; a choreographic travelogue deeply informed by its host location.
Bausch described her approach and commitment to creating co-productions as, “almost all our pieces have been co-productions, evolved from the meeting of different cultures – whether in Hong Kong , Brazil , Budapest , Palermo , Japan or Istanbul . Getting to know unfamiliar customs, music and traditions led me to transform into dance what is unknown but is part of us all. Getting to know the unknown, sharing it, and experiencing it without fear.”
With their intricate, complex and stunning stage designs by Bausch’s longstanding collaborator Peter Pabst, featuring gigantic tree trunks evoking Californian Redwood forests (Nur Du, Los Angeles), a 20-foot-high hill of red silk flowers (Der Fenzterputzer, Hong Kong), and an entirely bricked up stage (Palermo, Palermo, Palermo), the works will be presented as part of the London 2012 Festival. Ruth McKenzie, director of the Cultural Olympiad, has confirmed that this will be one of the major highlights of the cultural festival leading up to the sporting event. Six works will show at Sadler’s Wells and four at the Barbican.
Dominique Mercy and Robert Sturm, Co-Artistic Directors of Tanztheater Wuppertal comment “For all the dancers and members of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, the wonderful invitation to be part of the Cultural Olympiad 2012, is an amazing and outstanding homage to Pina Bausch and a great honour for all of us.”
Alistair Spalding, Sadler’s Wells Chief Executive & Artistic Director, Toni Racklin, Head of Theatre, Barbican and Michael Morris, Director of Cultural Industry comment: “We are thrilled to be working together to realise World Cities, a hugely ambitious cultural event at a time when global attention will be focused on London. Pina Bausch’s work is truly Olympian in quality and scale and her legacy continues to influence the global artistic landscape. Pina loved our city and saw the world reflected in it. Her reflections on the world will now be gathered together for the first time in one city – 10 major works performed by her outstanding company in just one month.”
Pina Bausch was born in Solingen, 1940 and died in Wuppertal, 2009. She received her dance training at the Folkwang School in Essen under Kurt Jooss, where she achieved technical excellence. Soon after the director of Wuppertal ’s theatres Arno Wüstenhöfer engaged her as choreographer, from autumn 1973 she renamed the ensemble Tanztheater Wuppertal. Under this name, Bausch’s initially controversial fusion of radical theatre, surreal art, drama and danced body language, known as Tanztheater, gradually achieved international recognition for the company.
Her original approach to theatre and dance influenced the international development of dance decisively and inspired not only a generation of choreographers, but also theatre makers, visual artists and filmmakers. Awarded some of the greatest prizes and honours world-wide, Pina Bausch is one of the most significant choreographers of our time.
Since her death in 2009 the artistic directorship of Tanztheater Wuppertal has been taken over by Dominique Mercy and Robert Sturm. French-born Dominique Mercy joined Tanztheater Wuppertal as a dancer at its conception in 1973. Robert Sturm’s background is in dramaturgy and directing, and he was engaged by Pina Bausch in 2000 as artistic assistant and rehearsal director.
The international appetite for Pina Bausch’s work is as strong as ever. In 2010 the company’s intense international tour included Athens , Istanbul , Monaco , New York , Barcelona , London and Edinburgh International Festival. This year they will visit Hong Kong , Brazil , Portugal and Paris .
Sadler’s Wells first presented the work of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch in 1982. A 17 year absence followed before Bausch returned with her company in 1999 with Viktor, in 2002 with Masurca Fogo, and in 2005 with Nelken and Palermo, Palermo . In 2008 the company presented her seminal works, Café Müller and The Rite of Spring, followed by a unique performance at Sadler’s Wells Celebrates in November of the same year, marking 10 years since the theatre re-opened. In 2010 they presented the London premiere of the rarely performed Iphigenie auf Tauris.
In 2002 Tanztheater Wuppertal created Kontakthof (Ladies and Gentlemen over 65), a reworking of Bausch’s pioneering piece originally developed in 1978. It was performed at the Barbican that same year and returned there in 2010 in a poignant pairing with its later counterpart Kontakthof (Teenagers over 14).
Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch: World Cities 2012
Commissioned by Sadler’s Wells in association with Cultural Industry and the Barbican. With thanks to Wuppertal, North Rhine Westphalia and Arts Council England
Release issued by: Barbican press office
LINKS
Sadler’s Wells website
Barbican website
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