Please Be Seated: New Movement Collective at the Southbank Centre

Where the NMC’s acclaimed previous works have been immersive productions in unusual spaces, this new work explores more everyday structures resembling chairs and tables, and reveals the unexpected absurdity and theatricality of everyday shapes.

The award-winning dancers-choreographers of the Collective have a shared history of performing with some of the best British dance companies, including Rambert, Scottish Dance Theatre, Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, Russell Maliphant Company and the Royal Ballet.

Their 2013 Nest was an immersive and abstract retelling of Homer’s Odyssey across attics and scaffolds, which the Guardian called ‘An epic, powerfully distilled.’ The recently revived New Movement Collective Casting Traces took audiences through a paper maze of spaces, weaving shadow and film into the movement.

This collaboration between NMC and designer Friedichs is supported by a host of other artists, including video game score composer Ben Houge, installation designers JaneJaney and light artist Yaron Abulafia, whose lighting effects have patterned the stage for many contemporary dance companies.

The NMC’s signature combination of dance and architecture might seem unusual, but brings a surprising and captivating clarity to their ideas. Promising dark humour and innovation, expect expectations to be turned on their heads.