Translunar Paradise - 14.02.12

I didn't know quite what to expect when I bought my ticket for Translunar - I'd heard good things about it but the fact that it was effectively a mime: completely wordless, left me a teeny bit sceptical (not least because I'd be sitting by myself, watching a romantic show, on Valentine's Night, boohoo).

The show opened with a freeze frame of an elderly couple (Rose and William)sitting at a table.  As the show went on it was impressive how obviously the story came across, despite the fact not a word was uttered.

The actors were constantly switching between the present day..

..and the past..

..using a combination of masks, clothes, lighting and accompaniment music to make the time change obvious.

Surprisingly close to the beginning, Rose dies, leaving William standing by her bedside, suddenly alone. Rose exits her body and, finding herself a ghost, and therefore invisible, begins to teach William how to function without her. As he tries to hold on to memento's from their past together, she flings objects around the place and, probably the most heart-wrenching thing in the whole show, takes away her mug when he tried to make two cups of tea, istead of one.

After an hour and ten minutes of a mixture of tears and laughter, I would not hesitate to recommend this show to anyone. Bring a tissue - I could definitely spot some of the men in the audience holding back tears when the lights went up.

Warning: This show will induce an urge to call everyone you know to tell them you love them.

-Hilary Shepherd, Marketing Officer

Retina Dance : Layers of Skin - 10.02.12

Retina Dance are the East Midlands’ only professional contemporary dance company and have visited the Drill Hall on many occasions with some amazing performances and participation projects and on Friday 10 February they presented Layers of Skin, their latest project.

Involving a small group of local young dancers who worked with the company all week the final performance was an astonishing hour of extreme physical dance and athleticism that was exhausting just to watch.

I always love that with Retina’s shows you can just watch them and enjoy them without being made to feel like you should necessarily be understanding every nuance. With some other dance companies you’re made to feel like maybe you’re missing something… but not with Retina.

Layers of Skin was one their best yet – thrilling, entertaining, amazing and hugely rewarding to watch. We hope to get them back here again soon : )

-Simon Hollingworth, Director

Fairport Convention & Kieran Goss - 03.02.12

Before I begin telling you about Fairport Convention, it's very much worth mentioning their support act, Kieran Goss, who delighted the audience for half an hour or so beforehand.

 

As well as being very small, he shared some hilarious anecdotes and heartfelt tunes with us before concluding his set by accompanying Fairport in the first song of theirs.

Though I wasn't around when Fairport Convention first began playing, I can imagine that they are just as good now, in their 45th year of playing, as they were then, if not better! Thanks to google I can find a 'what they looked like then' picture:

I had the privilege of seeing the show from the very top of the hall (in the lighting booth, actually)  and got to see every member of the band pick up various instruments and play them with no trouble at all. And here's what they look like now:

Each member of Fairport Convention (except the drummer) had their moment in the show to lead a song or chat to the audience, and each of their songs had a bit of a story behind it, which was nice for people, like myself, who had never seen Fairport before.

Their tunes were cheerful and catchy, and the band's ability to sing in three part harmony, both unaccompanied and whilst playing their respective instruments, was quite refreshing.

Definitely worth seeing if they come to you.

Great show, guys!

-Hilary Shepherd, Marketing Officer

If you liked Fairport Convention, we think you will love The Hamsters and King King

Ockham's Razor - 01.02.12

Safe to say, I was completely blown away by Ockham's Razor.

The first piece of the night was titled 'Arc', and as far as I was aware, told the story of three friends stuck on a raft in the middle of the sea. Though as we aren't lucky enough to have a sea in the Drill Hall auditorium, the performers had to make do with a grid in mid-air. Observe:

The three characters (who I'm imaginatively call green girl, pink girl and boy) were entwined in a love triangle.

The developing love between the green girl and the boy caused the pink girl so much jealousy she tried to push each of them off the raft, consequently the raft started rocking (rotating 360 degrees several times), allowing the performers to execute some fantastic acrobatics.

The second piece, 'Memento Mori', revolved around the idea of death as a dance. The pink girl  and the boy returned - he, dressed head to toe in a white body suit with hands and face painted white, acting as death. This time, the raft had been substituted for a trapeze:

In this piece, she was fighting death, and via some more amazing tricks and precarious balancing acts, death always seemed to find a way to control her, and in the end I think the audeince are to assume she lost. Sniff.

Finally, we got to 'Every Action...' (my favourite). This was funny but still as impressive. Four strangers meet in front of suspended rope, and between them hoike each other up to mid-air and try to out-do their fellow performers with ever more impressive tricks.

And just as they begin to get the hang it, they lose the end of the rope and the show tantalizingly ends with this:

After lots of applause we were treated to a question and answer with the team which proved insightful and funny.

We very much hope to see Ockham's Razor again with a brand new show in 2013.

10/10

-Hilary Shepherd, Marketing Officer

If you liked Ockham's Razor, we think you will love Retina : Layers of Skin and Earthfall.