Media Release: Last Orders – cannibalism and corrupted innocence at the Traverse Theatre

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EDINBURGH-based David Hughes Dance Productions, in association with National Theatre of Scotland, has again joined forces with Al Seed, artistic director of Conflux, to bring the world premiere of LAST ORDERS to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011.

This new production will be staged at the Traverse Theatre [venue 15] from Tuesday 16 to Sunday 28 August and will then tour throughout Scotland in the autumn.

Says a spokesperson: “Last Orders is an enthralling new work of dance theatre inspired by the bloody myth of Sawney Bean, the legendary 16th century Scottish cannibal, and his cursed incestuous and multigenerational tribe of relentless killers.

“It is a hallucinatory journey down the rabbit-hole, through subterranean caves and derelict nightclubs, to a radically different and unstable world of corrupted innocence where nothing is quite what is seems.”

The spokesperson continued: “Last Orders is the second production in a series of original, engaging and immersive works that bring dark themes and the horror genre to the stage; with cinematic techniques and cross-art form collaboration at their heart. It is the follow-up to 2009’s award-winning The Red Room, acclaimed by critics and audiences alike.

“For Last Orders David Hughes Dance Productions has brought together a diverse International company of performers. Martin Lindinger, Lina Limosani, Matthew Foster, Stuart Bowden and Alex Rigg seamlessly merge their individual dance styles  (contemporary, breakdance, ballet) with dynamic physical theatre to create grotesque and monstrous characters that inhabit a chaotic underworld, swinging between the poles of ecstatic celebration and confrontation of their greatest fears.”

Last Orders reunites the creative team behind The Red Room – director and choreographer Al Seed [with additional choreography from the Company], creative producer David Hughes, lighting designer Alberto Santos Bellido and sound designer Guy Veale.

Alex Rigg of Oceanallover joins the team as costume and set designer; and as a performer.

Alex has collaborated with NVA and Theatre Cryptic and also creates large-scale figurative work with Trevor Leat for events such as the Wickerman Festival.

David Hughes Dance is one of only four Scottish companies represented in the British Council’s Edinburgh Showcase 2011.

It has also been included in the Made In Scotland Showcase for this year’ Fringe.

Last Orders is supported by The National Theatre of Scotland, Creative Scotland and The Traverse Theatre.

In 2009, David Hughes Dance was the first dance company to be offered a permanent residency at The Traverse Theatre.

The inclusion of Last Orders in the Traverse Theatre’s 2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme represents their continued commitment to the company and their investment in dance.

Conflux, a project developing a voice for Scottish artists working in street arts, physical theatre and circus, has collaborated with David Hughes Dance Productions to run an apprenticeship scheme to support the creation of Last Orders.

Working with the core production team, apprentices have been learning skills in the areas of stage management, production management, set, costume, lighting and sound design, and directing.

What the critics said about THE RED ROOM:

“Intense and complex… performed flawlessly.” – The Financial Times (****)

“Savage and elegant dance theatre.” – The Guardian (****)

Ends

Media Contact:
Paddy Cuthbert | Podge Publicity | M: 07968699636 | e: paddy@podge.co.uk

Listings information:

David Hughes Dance Productions in association with National Theatre of Scotland present

LAST ORDERS

Venue: Traverse 1, Traverse Theatre [venue 15], Cambridge Street, Edinburgh – http://www.traverse.co.uk/

Dates: Tuesday 16 to Sunday 28 August – not Monday 22 August / Preview Tuesday 16 August

Performance Times:  Tue 16 – 10:00, Wed 17- 13:15, Thu 18 – 18:30, Fri 19 – 21:45, Sat 20 – 10:00, Sun 21 – 13:15, Tue 23 – 18:30, Wed 24 – 21:45, Thu 25 – 10:00, Fri 26 – 13:15, Sat 27 – 18:30, Sun 28 Aug – 21:45

Please Note – Suitable for ages 14+
Tickets: ON SALE FROM THURSDAY 09 JUNE 2011
Preview performance – £12 / £6 concs
Main performances –  £17 / £12 concs / £6 unemployed, Sun – Thurs;
£19 / £13 concs, Fri – Sat
Traverse Box Office: +44 (0)131 228 1404 / http://www.traverse.co.uk/
Fringe Box Office: +44 (0)131 226 0000

David Hughes Dance – http://www.davidhughesdance.co.uk/

David Hughes Dance (DHD) is fearlessly dedicated to setting the benchmark through commissioning new artisanal work by unique and sophisticated choreographers / directors. The company is committed to stepping out of all comfort zones in order to produce the most honest, authentic and engaging work possible – seeking originality is a priority! With artistic director, David Hughes, renowned for his work with major companies – including Rambert Dance Company, Adventures In Motion Pictures and DV8 Physical Theatre – high-calibre technical ability is the lynch-pin for the wider range of skills present within DHD.

DHD boasts a nucleus of intelligent, mature and multi-disciplined performers internationally recognised as being at the fore-front of their individual styles. Having access to such diverse skills generates a deep and comprehensive pool of movement vocabulary that in turn enables the company to create groundbreaking, compelling and hugely entertaining work of exquisite beauty and show-stopping impact. DHD aims to develop lasting partnerships with like-minded artists, choreographers and practitioners and is passionately engaged in presenting a comprehensive programme of education and outreach work to increase knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the artistic work.

National Theatre of Scotland – www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

Since its launch in February 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in creating over 137 productions in 125 different locations. With no building of its own, the company takes theatre all over Scotland and beyond, working with existing and new venues and companies to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. It takes place in the great buildings of Scotland, but also in site-specific locations, airports and tower blocks, community halls and drill halls, ferries and forests. The company has performed to almost 600,000 people, across three continents. www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

The British Council Showcase – www.britishcouncil.org/edinburghshowcase

The British Council’s Edinburgh Showcase is a biennial platform of contemporary UK performance featuring some of the most outstanding small and middle-scale touring productions made in the UK and selected by the British Council from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The British Council invites over 200 delegates to attend the Showcase. They are drawn from the international performing arts sector and include key programmers, producers and agents. The primary objective of Edinburgh Showcase 2011 is to develop new markets and broker new collaborations between the British Council’s global network and UK practitioners.

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations. We build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between cultures in more than 100 countries worldwide through a broad range of programmes in education, English language and the arts.  http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-drama.htm

Made In Scotland Showcase – http://www.madeinscotland2011.com/

Made in Scotland is an initiative supported by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund to showcase Scottish-based performing arts talent in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe through a partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Federation of Scottish Theatre and Creative Scotland. The programme has been especially selected by a distinguished panel of programmers, cultural managers and commentators.

At the heart of Made in Scotland is theatre and dance performance to excite, inspire and entertain with a mix of highly respected and established theatre and dance companies and some of Scotland’s most dynamic and innovative independent artists.

Behind the scenes the initiative will help performers to raise their profile both at the Fringe and outside Scotland, with additional support to present their best work internationally and to foster international collaborations and creative dialogue.

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Contact: Paddy Cuthbert
Phone: 07968699636
Email: paddy@podge.co.uk
Website: http://www.davidhughesdance.co.uk/