Joana BritoEverything is vibrant and exciting about this show. It is a journey shared between the audience and the performers, a collaborative hope that everything will be okay in the end.
The cast is composed by three trained adult performers, who share the stage with two kids, who are no less amazing performers. Together, they use their bodies to brilliantly depict the tricky job of growing up, and we want their risky acrobatic movements to be as successful as their future. Our future.
It is impossible not to look at this piece of work as a metaphor of the burdens that younger generations carry on their shoulders; it is impossible not to think that generations need to collaborate in order to find solutions for the chaos our planet is currently living through.
Despite the depth and nostalgia that is always present when artists reflect about the future, about growing up and getting older, there is also a great sense of humour throughout Nosedive.
The performers are extremely skilled, presenting a breath-taking circus language, as well as funny, generous and engaging acting. The lighting designed by Michaella Fee and the sound designed by Kim Moore contribute to an environment of suspense. We never know what to expect next in this performance, it always finds a way of surprising us, stealing a laughter, a “wow” or even a tear from us.
The movement is smooth and precise and despite the tremendous physical complexity of the scenes, there is a beautiful simplicity and some touching moments of silence, while the pace and length of the show are just right, allowing the audience to be engaged during the whole performance.
The space is explored in a very clever way, allowing different points of view and combinations of movement, and the dynamic of the group is contagious and it is clear to see how much they trust each other.
Isn’t it beautiful to think about generations trusting each other? People trusting that other people will be there to catch them if they fall ? However, the risk of falling is still always present. Therefore, this is also a show about risk, about overcoming the boundaries of the human body.
When one of the performers is asked what she expects from the future, she says, amongst other things, that she wants to be happy. She also mentions that she dreams of performing at the Barbican and receiving five star reviews. Well, some dreams do come true. Here is one of your five star reviews.
Nosedive is playing at the Barbican Centre until 16 November. For more information and tickets, visit the Barbican website.