September 14, 2008
Precarious are a dance collective who present distinct scenes of physical theatre with images projected onto their bodies, as they show a cautionary tale about how the extremes of consumerism can swallow up personal freedom. The ugly urban sculptural postures of the troupe show life in an Orwell inspired ‘Factory’, as they wear navy blue uniforms. Big Brother is never far away promising ‘Victory Gin’ and upping productivity. As the sinister onlooker of the emcee communicates through a web cam, sentiments such as ‘you are the shops you shop in’ cycling repetitively become anathema. Cars that need to be replaced after a week are suggested. The white face-painted emcee further dictates that ‘you are your ironic tracksuit’ as the outfit is projected onto the dancers’ bodies. One girl dancer explains how she seeks to communicate her total personality through the consumer goods she purchases. This production is fresh from its success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Whilst trawling for a cast list remains for this reviewer a needle in a haystack task, the message divulged by this energised line up of dancers is by contrast an obvious statement. Choreography at times is both comic and violent as women hang by their feet from a frame, flesh is exposed yet the vulnerability of real nudity is excluded. This makes the emergence of the female form from see-through plastic bags all the more moving. The soundtrack for this 75 minute journey into the dark side of capitalism is largely techno, with occasional drum and bass segments. Dialogue between characters, for example the Joan of Arc style speech delivered by the ‘failure’ human removed from the production line to be burnt industrially, is genuine theatre. However the Herculean acrobatics involving jumping over tables place the show firmly in the realms of physical theatre. The images constructed by the company are bold and memorable, such as the body writhing in the clear plastic sheet, making Precarious ‘Architects of paradise’.
Whilst trawling for a cast list remains for this reviewer a needle in a haystack task, the message divulged by this energised line up of dancers is by contrast an obvious statement. Choreography at times is both comic and violent as women hang by their feet from a frame, flesh is exposed yet the vulnerability of real nudity is excluded. This makes the emergence of the female form from see-through plastic bags all the more moving. The soundtrack for this 75 minute journey into the dark side of capitalism is largely techno, with occasional drum and bass segments. Dialogue between characters, for example the Joan of Arc style speech delivered by the ‘failure’ human removed from the production line to be burnt industrially, is genuine theatre. However the Herculean acrobatics involving jumping over tables place the show firmly in the realms of physical theatre. The images constructed by the company are bold and memorable, such as the body writhing in the clear plastic sheet, making Precarious ‘Architects of paradise’.