Stopgap Dance Company: Lived Fiction

Lived Fiction is a mesmerising celebration of talented performers who, as the programme says, ‘invites you to experience dance from multiple perspectives’.

Stopgap Dance Company: Lived Fiction

As the audience enters, a live caption screen displays a voiceover detailing what we are about to experience. The voice belongs to Dan, a former dancer in Stopgap's previous performances, who shares how this piece considers "a kaleidoscope of experiences and myriad of bodies."

Already on stage, the diverse cast introduces themselves. Hannah, who has Down syndrome, is the beating metronome of the performance with her rhythmic hip movements. Mo playfully states how she won’t always be in her wheelchair during the performance whilst Nadenh contrasts this by saying how he’s strapped into his wheelchair to be united throughout. Jannick whose disability is marked by a rectangle on his head is followed by Christian and Emily, two non-disabled dancers. Lastly Lily, the live captioner, introduces herself from a desk in the corner of the stage.

As Lily explains, "translation" here means making movement feel natural to each performer’s body. We see this in the warm unified chorus piece which opens the show and eases the audience in with sweeping movements to gentle humming. However, the duets are the highlight, as the performers interlace and rearrange their bodies. Nadenh's controlled movements and physical prowess are particularly impressive, while Hannah shines as an expressive and poised dancer. The choreography is intimate and detailed, drawing the audience in and creating a measured, deliberate pace.

The auditory experience is equally compelling, with repeated words and sounds creating a rhythmic, layered musical score. Words serve as the foundation for transitions that explore what it is to be disabled in today’s world, while costume sounds add another sensory dimension. Playful humour runs through the performance, adding levity while also deepening the conversation about disability.

Lived Fiction leaves a lasting impact on how we experience and perceive dance, breaking boundaries and forging the way for much-needed change in the representation of performers. It is moving, inspiring, and a captivating sensory experience.

Header Image Credit: Christopher Parkes

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Author

Monica Cox

Monica Cox Voice Reviewer

Monica is a theatre and film director, writer and dramaturg with a particular interest in queer and female stories. She has a degree in Spanish and Russian and a Masters in Theatremaking.

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