I think it’s fair to say that I’m not the target audience for Wayne McGregor and Random Dance’s Atomos. As someone with no dance background, who knows everything they know about dance from fourteen weeks a year of Strictly Come Dancing, this show left me cold. However, judging by the reaction of the rest of the audience, I think I’m probably rather in the minority with this opinion.

Atomos is a dance performance which celebrates bodies and movement. McGregor has explored the interaction of bodies and minds, and created an interpretative dance production to reflect the intelligence of the body. The ten-strong troupe was excellent: each dancer astonishingly flexible and never missing a beat. Their individual strengths were apparent, and McGregor showcased this with spotlights thrown on single dancers channelling elements of ballet or street dance. However, without any kind of narrative to follow, the dancing seemed to drift along aimlessly. The trouble with leaving something so open to interpretation is that it can become meandering and meaningless. I kept expecting something different – perhaps some kind of story – from the performance and not getting it.

The music was gorgeous – A Winged Victory for the Sullen soundtracked the production with soaring chords. The minimal costuming showed off the range of motion to perfect effect. The simple use of light and colour in the background was effective, although the audience had to wear 3D glasses for a large part of the show to watch video screens dangling above the stage. I think this was meant to make Atomos a multimedia experience, but it felt superfluous – a distracting gimmick.

I think I can appreciate that something is technically “good” without enjoying the experience. I was bored throughout this production. I go to the theatre primarily to be entertained and challenged, and while if this had been a two-minute piece I would have found it mesmerising, at sixty-five minutes I was glad when the curtain fell. ★★☆☆☆   @BookingAround     04/03/15