This year’s annual international visual theatre festival, manipulate is now in its 8th year. It opened at the Traverse with a world première from Scottish aerial dance company, All or Nothing and their new touring production, Three’s A Crowd. All or Nothing is an Edinburgh based company established in 2006 and specialising in harness flying, aerial acrobatics, contemporary circus and dance theatre.
This performance of Three’s A Crowd is an intense interpretation of the shifting dynamics and relationships of six friends who move in and out of each other’s lives creating a series of intersecting shapes including of course the eternal triangle. One character observes, participates and provides some random narration.
The piece opens with great visual promise. A giant illuminated blue frame stands at the back of the stage with two long white drapes hanging at either side like an enormous window frame set in space. This striking impression comes from the expert design of Becky Minto who also designed the closing ceremony of Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games. Metal rigs stand along the side of the spare stage whose black glossy floor spookily reflects the dancers’ movements throughout.
The wonderful accompanying orchestral music from composer and prolific musician Luke Sutherland ranges from quietly atmospheric to rock to Kraftwerkesque. Kate Bonney, who is the lighting designer of the renowned Enchanted Forest, brings her skills to this energetic and dynamic show.
The absolute beauty of the combined disciplines involved in aerial dance may be something that can be appreciated just as it is. The sight of someone curled barefoot in a suspended hoop, or twisting elegantly through soft cloth is pretty much astonishment enough. This company’s evident competence in aerial dance and acrobatics shine enough on their own without the distraction of a vague if ambitious narrative that verges on the esoteric and whose minimal narration feels like gilding the lily.
Most of the All or Nothing performers are also trained dancers whose tremendous skill and graceful agility take dance and physicality to a new level of visual beauty. Their particular expertise is in no small way dependent on the precision counterweighting from the fast climbing riggers at the side. Fantastic teamwork!
There is nothing overtly sexual or risqué in this performance so the age recommend of 14 plus seems arbitrary.
age recommend 14+
Saturday 31 January 2015
Tour continues to:
Birse and Feughside Church (Finzean Church), Finzean, Aberdeenshire AB31 6NY
Date: 5 February 2015 Time: 19:00
Tickets and Box Office: www.neatshows.co.uk or email [email protected]
Eden Court, Bishops Road, Inverness IV3 5SA
Date: 7 February 2015
Time: 20:00
Tickets: £11.00, £9.00 conc, £6.00 U18s
Box Office: 01463 234 234 | http://www.eden-court.co.uk/box-office
Macrobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA
Date: 26 February 2015
Time: 20:00
Tickets: £14, £12.50 conc, £5.50 students
Box Office: 01786 466 666 | www.macrobert.org
Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, Kingsway, Newport NP20 1HG
Date: 5 March 2015
Time 19.30
Tickets: £10, £8 conc, £6 students
Box Office: 01633 656 679 | http://www.newport.gov.uk/riverfront
Cumbernauld Theatre, Kildrum, Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire G67 2BN
Date: 13 March 2015 Time: 19:30
Tickets: £14, £12 conc
Box Office: 01236 732 887 | http://www.cumbernauldtheatre.co.uk/all-events
The Beacon Arts Centre, Custom House Quay, Greenock PA15 1EQ
Date: 19 March 2015 Time: 19:30
Tickets: £12, £10 conc
Box Office: 01475 723 723 | www.beaconartscentre.co.uk
Dundee Rep Theatre, Tay Square, Dundee, Dundee City DD1 1PB
Date: 9 May 2015 Time: 20:00
Tickets: £12
Box Office: 01382 223 530 | http://www.dundeerep.co.uk/events/
Western Baths, 12 Cranworth Street, Glasgow G12 8BZ
As part of the Cottier Chamber Project 2015
Date: 22 June 2015
Time: 19.00
Tickets & Box Office: www.cottierchamberproject.com