Theatre of Dreams

Choreography and Music Hofesh Shechter
Lighting design Tom Visser
Costume design Osnat Kelner
Performed by Hofesh Shechter Company

 

 

© Tom Visser

 

It’s astonishingly beautiful, constantly inventive - The Guardian
The dance dazzles, defined by razor-sharp gestures, a contagious energy and the irresistible beauty which characterises Shechter’s work. - Le Figaro
A symbiosis of hip-hop, folk dance and nightclub vibes… Poetic and joyful, this Theatre of Dreams surprises from start to finish, and above all is full of emotion and energy! Invigorating - L’Essentiart

 

This new full-length evening showcases the physicality and complexity of Hofesh Shechter’s choreography and his inimitable dancers, as they take the audience on a wild headfirst dive into the theatre of dreams.
Through Hofesh’s ever-unfolding choreography, this new work delves deep into the world of fantasy and the subconscious, revealing fears, hopes, desires and a myriad of emotions that penetrates not only the dreaming mind but also our waking thoughts.
The dancers’ bodies bring to life on stage this interplay between poetry and reality, accompanied by live musicians and Shechter’s trademark cinematic composition. Hofesh reunites with creative collaborators from previous productions: Tom Visser for lighting design (Grand Finale, The Fix, Contemporary Dance 2:0, Wild Poetry and From England with Love) and Osnat Kelner for costumes (Contemporary Dance 2:0 and Wild Poetry).

 

 
HOFESH SHECHTER – CHOREOGRAPHY AND MUSIC

 

The mighty contemporary choreographer – a combination of dance-maker and rock-star, but with film-director sensibilities. - The Times
One of the British dance scene’s hottest properties, the creator of works that are full of raw, visceral energy, set to blasting percussive scores that he composes himself. - New York Times
There is no sitting in thoughtful contemplation at a Shechter gig. For pure, heart pounding excitement, there is simply no one to touch him. - Daily Express
Getting goose bumps is the very least you can expect from a Hofesh Shechter show - Le Monde

 

Choreographer and composer Hofesh Shechter OBE is Artistic Director of UK-based Hofesh Shechter Company, Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells and Artist-in-Residence of Gauthier Dance (2021-2024). Shechter is recognised as one of the most exciting artists making work for both stage and film and renowned for composing atmospheric musical scores to complement the unique physicality of his movement style.
Hofesh Shechter’s repertoire for his company includes Uprising (2006), In your rooms (2007), The Art of Not Looking Back (2009), Political Mother (2010), Political Mother: The Choreographer’s Cut(2011), Sun (2013), barbarians (2015), Grand Finale (2017), SHOW (2018), POLITICAL MOTHER UNPLUGGED (2020) Double Murder (2021), Contemporary Dance 2.0 (2022) and From England with Love (2024).
Shechter has choreographed for theatre, television and opera, notably at the Metropolitan Opera (New York) for Nico Mulhy’s Two Boys, on Broadway for Bartlett Sher’s Fiddler on the Roof, at the Royal Court for Motortown and The Arsonists, at the National Theatre for Saint Joan and for the Channel 4 series Skins. He has co-directed with John Fulljames on Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice (Royal Opera House and La Scala) and LIGHT: Bach Dances (Royal Danish Opera and Philharmonie de Paris). His works have also been staged by leading UK and international dance companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (USA), Martha Graham Dance Company (USA), Candoco Dance Company (UK), Nederlands Dans Theater 1 (NL), Paris Opera Ballet (FR), Royal Ballet (UK) and Royal Ballet Flanders (BE).
Shechter has directed three award-winning short dance films: Clowns, broadcast by the BBC, POLITICAL MOTHER: The Final Cut and Return. In addition to these, he and his company collaborated with French filmmaker Cédric Klapisch on the feature En corps. The film was released in 2022 alongside a soundtrack composed by Shechter.
He has received many prizes including the British Theatre Institute’s Award for Excellence in International Dance (2011), a Tony Nomination for his work on Fiddler on the Roof (2016), a nomination for an Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production for Grand Finale (2018), and Best Dance Film at Festival de Cannes (2023). In 2018, he was also awarded an honorary OBE for Services to Dance

 

 

NOTE
RUNNING TIME 1hr 20mins (no interval)
AGE GUIDANCE 13 +
Content warning This performance contains intermittent loud music

 

 

THEATRE OF DREAMS
Produced by Hofesh Shechter Company
Commissioned by Théâtre de la Ville - Paris. Co-commissioned by Sadler’s Wells London; Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival; Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg; Seongnam Arts Center/Seongnam Cultural Foundation; Danse Danse Montréal; MC2 : Maison de la Culture de Grenoble - Scène nationale; Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen; Central - La Louvière; Shanghai International Dance Center Theater (SIDCT); Théâtre Sénart - Scène Nationale; Torinodanza Festival / Teatro Stabile di Torino - Teatro Nazionale; Festspielhaus St. Pölten (AT); La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand scène nationale; Maison de la danse, Lyon - Pôle européen de création; Les Gémeaux - Scène Nationale de Sceaux; Château Rouge, scène conventionnée – Annemasse; Châteauvallon-Liberté, scène nationale; Scène Nationale ALBI-Tarn; Le Carré Sainte-Maxime with support from Theater Rotterdam; Les Salins - Scène Nationale de Martigues; Marche Teatro / Inteatro Festival; La Briqueterie CDCN du Val-de-Marne and The Maria Björnson Memorial Fund.

 

Individual Commissioner Georgia Rosengarten

 

Hofesh Shechter Company benefits from the support of BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of its projects and is supported using public funding through Arts Council England.