JADAR

★★★★★

At times terrifying, breathtaking, and unsettling, Far From the Norm’s Until We Sleep, put simply, is an incredibly moving piece of art.

The audience are thrust into an entirely new world and are left to witness the mastery of Olivier Award–winning choreographer Botis Seva in his prime. Seva describes the piece as being “birthed from different feelings and experiences of being a leader, in life, as a father, as a maker. Until we are put to sleep, until we are no longer on the earth then we must fight for justice and peace.”

It’s clear that the production centred around leadership. Victoria Shulungu leads the pack in Until We Sleep, playing the “lone nomad”, emerging from the darkness and commanding the space from the moment the curtains opened. This notion of leading a group, having them depend on this strong figure, was the main thread throughout the piece; the rest felt up to us, to come up with the stories and what was happening on stage.

The dancers are adorned in furs, feathers and skins. Ryan Laight’s costume design is raw and fascinating, and compliments the dance as the smaller details of the costumes vibrate and shake with each movement. Particularly poignant was the costume design of the looming figure emerging from behind the light beams, reminiscent of the Midsommar (2019) flower costume silhouette, instead with feathers and a towering headdress.

From a technical perspective, Until We Sleep featured one of the most exceptional scores and most effective uses of lighting I have experienced. The biting, ethereal sound, designed by Torben Lars Sylvest, sounded incredible. It felt as if the noises were being produced centimeters from the ear; it was raw and you could feel and hear the care that went into Sylvests’ production. Ranging from a variety of percussion and wind instruments, to whispers of lost voices, abrasive hitting and knocking noises, doors closing and creaking. The score was visceral, and the Far From Norm dancers corresponded to every single breath, beat and note.

The lighting (Tom Visser) is equally as impressive. Beams of light are set up diagonally, semi-circling the stage, providing more than sources of light, but of fear, power and hope for the leader and her group. The beams flicker and flow naturally with light and colour, in harmony with the dancers’ movements and Sylvest’s score. At times, they resembled stars, and at times bars of a prison. This element was incredibly versatile and efficacious.

Far From the Norm describe Until We Sleep as “A collage of stories of resistance and change.” The performance offered a glimpse into an array of narratives that seemed to transcend space and time. Until We Sleep is truly breathtaking. Its ambiguity was captivating, allowing the performers to move with purpose and precision while resisting confinement to a single, fixed narrative. Bringing the literary concept “Death of the Author” to life, I found myself imagining stories and relationships, seeking to uncover Seva’s intentions. However, this openness was far from a flaw; I believe that an artist doesn’t always need to spell everything out for their audience. Seva’s explorative vision, brought to life by a powerful cast of dancers, stands strong on its own.

Until We Sleep tours the UK and Europe until July 7.

Photo: Far From the Norm