19 June – 6 July

ECHO AND NARCISSUS, a brand-new work by renowned choreographer Kim Brandstrup, opens at the Ustinov Studio as part of the 2024 Deborah Warner Season.

Echo and Narcissus will feature an ensemble of dancers including Laurel Dalley Smith from the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York, Seirian Griffiths, Jacob Wye, Jonathan Goddard and Archie White. Completing Kim Brandstrup’s mythological trilogy, this new performance staged at the intimate Ustinov Studio offers a truly exceptional opportunity to experience close up some of the finest dancers in the world.

In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Echo is doomed only to repeat the words of others. Never able to speak nor to be heard, she circles the beautiful Narcissus, who only sees and hears himself. Misapprehension prevails as they move through a strange, echoing hall of mirrors and reflection.

Following the huge success of Minotaur and Metamorphoses in Deborah Warner’s first and second seasons, which explored notable characters and relationships from Greek mythology, Olivier Award-winning choreographer Kim Brandstrup returns to present Echo and Narcissus, the final instalment of his triptych, as part of Deborah Warner’s third season. Both Laurel Dalley Smith, who hails from Bath originally, and Jonathan Goddard danced in the world premiere staging of Minotaur at the Ustinov Studio in 2022.

Echo and Narcissus is preluded by a performance of Britten’s Six Metamorphoses after Ovid, a work for solo oboe, and Leda and the Swan, a short film created by Kim Brandstrup, both similarly inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The music of Benjamin Britten has featured throughout Deborah Warner’s seasons in Bath. Britten’s Phaedra was performed by mezzo-soprano Christine Rice paired with Minotaur, a new dance work by Kim Brandstrup, in August 2022. Tenor Ian Bostridge performed Songs of Benjamin Britten as part of the 2023 recital programme last autumn, and Britten’s opera The Turn of the Screw was performed at the Ustinov Studio in December 2023.

London-based Danish choreographer Kim Brandstrup is renowned for his work over four decades with companies including The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, English National Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Rambert. Recognised as one of the leading narrative choreographers of his generation, throughout his career he has sought a theatre of movement that is both powerful and subtle, creating poignant and suggestive narratives that are always intensely human and emotionally revealing.

Design for Echo and Narcissus is by Justin Nardella with lighting design by Chris Wilkinson and sound design by Eilon Morris.

Echo and Narcissus is part of the 2024 Deborah Warner Season, which showcases a multi-genre programme of theatre, dance and recital performances across four months this year from June to September.

Echo and Narcissus appears at the Ustinov Studio at the Theatre Royal Bath from 19^th June to 6^th July. To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or book online at theatreroyal.org.uk

Photo credit: Foteini Christofilopoulo