The Leeds Playhouse – until 17 September 2022
Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood
5*****
This evening performance is started with a minute’s silence and the playing of the national anthem as a mark of respect with the sad passing of HM The Queen.
Northern Ballet brings Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets to the Leeds Playhouse which features a trio of works by three choreographers. The choreographers explore the human condition and emotions, and they choreograph the storytelling on stage. The stories that are told differ greatly however the humanity themes remain the same.
The programme starts with Mthuthuzeli November’s Wailers. The work relates to the choreographer’s personal experiences and hardships growing up in a small South African town with the focus on giving thanks to life and to people, past and present, being part of it. The movement, dancing and recital in the programme are set to the choreographer’s musical composition. These are emphasised along with endurances and resilience and the eventual conquest of dealing with the hardships. The music, staging and costumes, courtesy of November, Yann Seabra and Steve Wilkins, is colourful and African themed with intimate and universal dancing that reflects the changing human condition and various emotions.
The second work of the evening is Stina Quagebeur’s Nostalgia and set to Jeremy Birchall’s music. Quagebeur’s work focuses on bittersweet emotions and the condition of the human brain. The dancing interprets joy, longing and awareness from the past which formed memories and motivation for continuation. However, Nostalgia reminds how one’s memories can be clouded with pain and darkness. The importance of remembering the happy memories and recognising the unhappy ones as a motive for moving forward is remembered.
The final work is Ma Vie Live. Dickson Mbi’s work explores Giacomo Casanova and his human condition. This includes his passion for love, his estranged relationship with the church and undoubtedly his life downfall which is movingly danced and interrupted by the dancers. The visual pleasing atmospheric story is melancholy performed to Roger Goula ingenious and catchy score and Mbi’s is choreographically supported by Kenny Ho. This work is undoubtedly one of the programme’s highlights and it is evident how well received Ma Vie Live is.
Everyone resonates with the programme and shares how complex and fragile the human condition and emotions are. No doubt this is true particularly with the recent national events and the many individual and personal human experiences many have whether happy or sad. Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets is humanly moving, stirring and unique and well put together by the Northern Ballet dancers and creators.