Piece for 6/7 Performers
Duration: 50min
Premiered on 23 April 2022 at The House – University of Plymouth
From the award winning director of ĐẸP
“throughout ĐẸP, I am on the edge of my seat.” The Guardian
★★★★ The Observer
Concept and Choreography: Dam Van Huynh
Sound environment composition: Martyna Poznańska
Vocal improvisations: Elaine Mitchener
Costume Design: Emma Lyth
Lighting Design: Patricia Roldán Polo
Sound Engineer: Michael Picknett
Performers: Paul Davies, Laura Kenyon, Marc Krause, Wai Shan Vivian Luk, Elaine Mitchener, Tommaso Petrolo, Marley Seville
With thanks to: Marta Masiero, Ieva Navickaite
Texts by Thich Nhat Hanh, Trinh T. Min-ha, Mitsuye Yamada, Audre Lorde, Ocean Vuong
Photography: Foteini Christophilopoulou / Brett Lockwood
“Let me begin again.” Ocean Vuong, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
Dam Van Huynh draws upon the words of writers, poets, activists as an awakening to his displaced experience as a child refugee from the Vietnam war. Moving from a state of disorientation into a state of consciousness, Re:birth retraces a personal experience of rediscovery.
The performance unravels a recollection of visual impressions and sensations, a memory book whose pictures and stories long forgotten begin to resurface, a distortion between memories and dreams. Movement responds to a field of light, sound and voice to illude the senses.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Audre Lorde, A Burst of Light
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England
With further support from University of Plymouth and Centre 151
Upcoming performances: Re:birth
Previous dates:
20 April 2022 – The Old Fire Station – Oxford
23 April 2022 – The House – University of Plymouth
25 April 2022 – Exeter Phoenix
27 April 2022 – Colchester Arts Centre
30 November 2022 – Lancaster Arts
23 March 2023 – The Arts Centre, Edge Hill Universisty
Winner of the Asian Arts Award for Best Direction 2018
★★★★ The Observer
“We, and the dancers are forcefully confronted with our frailty, but also, ultimately, with our capacity for regeneration. Life goes on.”
Feature in the Guardian
“throughout Dep, I am on the edge of my seat.”
Production pictures by Brett Lockwood