London’s Peacock Theatre has played host to a great number of captivating shows, and the award-winning Motionhouse is no different. Bringing a multimedia dance show to the venue, new show ‘Broken’, meant the company did not disappoint – its usual athletic performance was ever-present, lapped up by the audience.
The company’s staging is rooted in dance, theatre, circus, acrobatics and film, under the direction of artistic director and choreographer Kevin Finnan MBE. In true Motionhouse style, Broken erupts onto the stage in an adrenaline-filled spectacle, displaying the company of six dancers who bring Broken to life with awe-inspiring partner work and highly-skilled dance, based on strength and control as opposed to the tricks of today. Broken is part of the Earth Trilogy, which explores humans’ relationship with the planet, making it a thought-provoking and moving experience as the human race comes up as minuscule against the power of earthly surroundings.
A revolutionary set design by Simon Dormon, and ground-breaking digital imagery projection by Logela Multimedia, make way for fantastic digital projection, motion graphics and graphic design alone. With a narrative set against the combination of dance, circus and theatre, the dancers add further strands to the vibrant and eclectic performing arts scene as they delight audiences with the new production. The performers hang in suspense against the moving backdrop, and negotiate the constant changes in the world of illusion they inhabit, with the movement vocabulary gripping and fast-paced. Broken is set to an original score by Sophy Smith & Tim Dickinson, emphasising the ambiguity of the Broken world, earth but not as it is known.
With the dancers performing solos, duos or as the group of six, the precision and control they displayed was second to none throughout. The rumbling soundtrack paired with the intensity of the projections was seconded only by the interspersed work by the dancers, relying on both their physical strength and the strength of the group as a whole. Lacking was the usual display of contemporary dance ‘tricks’ seen in so many other performance companies, hugely welcome in presenting the Motionhouse company as innovative and bold in its work, inspiring others to do the same. The high energy and intensity showed off the Motionhouse dancers, complementing the physicality of the movement and the combination of this with the theatrics, projection and technical display.
Motionhouse is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Broken premiered in 2013 and was originally commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre, Watford Palace Theatre, The Grand Theatre Blackpool, mac birmingham and Swindon Dance. Pushing movement to its limits since 1988, Motionhouse creates awe-inspiring ‘4D’ spectacles where music, visuals, dance and physical theatre integrate to form a seamless immersive experience. The company’s distinctive style takes movement to its limits, integrating elements of circus and acrobatics with contact choreography and breath-taking dance. Motionhouse prides itself on producing shows of outstanding quality that are exciting, accessible and enjoyable for all.
The company additionally tours to theatres and festivals at home in the UK and across the globe. The company’s ambitious experimentation with setting, action and context have become an integral part of its trademark style, led by Finnan. Finnan was Choreographer and Movement Director for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and his interest in exploring and questioning the traditional use of space in performance has led to the creation of extraordinary dance spectacles on unique sites.
A wide ranging education and participatory programme runs parallel to Motionhouse’s touring performance work.