BRISTOL PREMIERE 3 – 4 May
Venus comprises a quadruple bill of adventurous new work from Impermanence dance company. Set up in 2011 by graduates from the Rambert School they are based in The Mount Without, showcasing their latest show in the main house of the Bristol Old Vic.
Venus, the main piece which takes up the whole of the second part of the show, concerns Mary Richardson, a figure rightly described as politically ambiguous. It is appropriate material for this company renowned for presenting cutting edge physical theatre, and not just for the boldness of the narrative. Richardson was a Suffragette who slashed the Rokeby Venus painting by Velazquez in protest at the arrest of Emmaline Pankhurst. Mixing high farce and tremendous breath-taking stage work, directors (and dancers) Roseanna Anderson and Joshua Ben-Tovin create a fantasy based around the woman who later went on to become head of the Women’s Section of the British Union of Fascists. Weaving an unlikely story around a time travelling fascist burlesque host, we are presented with something resembling a combination of Joel Gray’s MC in the movie ‘Cabaret’ and a John Waters production. The company of seven create memorable characters ranging from the jiggling, ogling men in front of the painting which so enrages Richardson, to a goose-stepping militia of maniacal monsters.
Written by Peter Clements and with music by composer Li Yilei, it is deliriously ambitious and despite the apparent absurdity of the concept, it works splendidly.
The first work presented, Feral is a ten minute film based on the book by and featuring the environmentalist George Monbiot. Although fascinating to watch and with a message around the loss of connectivity with nature, it mainly serves as an amuse bouche to the politically charged programme that follows.
Enemy of the Stars is a two-hander inspired by the play written by Wyndham Lewis in 1914 and conjures the raging tension, improvisation and daring of the Vorticist movement which challenged the status quo by seeking to create a new modernist world. Dancers Kip Johnson and Kennedy Jr Muntanga spar, war and ultimately collaborate with each other in an energetic piece full of grunts and machismo.
Cosmic Yogurt affectionately counterpoints recordings of Surrealist painter and storyteller Leonora Carrington with dance. Starting off with three tightly bound up dancers resembling Miss Haversham on amphetamines, it moves on to explore the artist’s spirit. Created with designer Pam Tait and Bristol folk musician and composer Nick Hart, the three dancers affectionately create what it is to be an artist on the frontier of creativity.
Venus makes great use of lip synched sound recording including that of Diana Mosley on Desert Island Discs to not only poke fun but also illuminate the sinister fascist world inhabited by Richardson.
A special mention needs to be made of the lighting design by Mike Gunnng and Imogen Senter. Incisive razor sharp slashes of light along with a generous amount of smoke truly transform the space in which the dancers work to create a challenging yet accessible while still brilliantly bonkers production.
★★★★☆ Bryan J Mason, 4th May 2023
Photo credit: James Randall, Paul Blakemore
