Aakash Odedra Review - By Gwen Grynfeld Tuesday 9th April 7.30pm

 

Aakash Odedra is a solo performer, trained specifically in Kathak dance (a narrative and decorative dance form, originating in North India and Pakistan.) However in “Rising” the performance showcases an exciting hybrid of Kathak and Contemporary dance, due to the three choreographers he has been working with: Akram Khan, Russel Maliphant and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

 The performance consisted of four acts, the first being “Nritta”, choreographed by Odedra himself. This was a spirited performance, allowing for a joyful rendition of the music and an uplifting response. This was a piece consisting of entirely decorative Kathak dance, which was both enjoyable and illuminating.

The second, entitled "In the shadow of man" was choreographed by Akram Khan, exploring the animal versus humanity. This was a disturbing piece, as the beginning focused on Odedra's back in red light, which due to contortion seemed inorganic and estranged from the rest of his body. The rest of the performance was in this vein, however as an audience we were less emotionally distanced as the piece progressed.

 "Cut" was choreographed by Russell Maliphant, who used lighting in particular to highlight and accent Odedra. This made for a particularly dramatic act, due to the dehumanisation of Odedra on account of the shadows cast, much like within "In the shadow of man". This made his face and body almost void of any recognisable characteristic, enabling Odedra to isolate parts of his body, by putting them in the light.

The final act was "Constellation", choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui; an exploration into the patterns of sound and light. The lighting for this consisted of light bulbs hanging from the ceiling (on elastic, one presumed), which bobbed around the stage in a beautifully simplistic, and yet magical way. The stage was instantly transformed into a slightly surreal world, where gravity did not seem to apply. This contrasted greatly due to its soft lighting, as opposed to the stark contrasts of "Cut".

This was a very distinctive and unique collaboration, which produced some very thought-provoking work, however one could say that the lighting was what made this performance remarkable.

The Stage is Yours Review - By Harrie Wenham Thursday 4th April 6pm

The stage is yours was a great way for talented young performers to show off there skills and a chance for them to introduce themselves as local performers. The night consisted of a wide range of performances from a excellent drama monologue to an explosive performance from a band. Being part of the judging panel was both enjoyable and also difficult when it came down to picking the 3 winners, nevertheless I am thrilled with the ones we decided on and feel that it was a pleasure watching all the acts. Furthermore I am glad at the quality of the performances and honestly can not say that there was a bad act. My overall opinion of the night was it was amazing to see other people's talents and also made me tthink about how we can develop the competition even further!

A Review of Kosh's Café Chaos - Wednesday 10th April 2013 7.30pm

The Kosh's Café Chaos was a compelling piece of theatre that utilized music, dance and movement to create a night of physical and verbal excellence. Set in a busy London café, the play used comic scenarios and unique characters to present the theme of prejudice in a personal and humorous way. In fact, it was not until the curtain call that I actually realized that the cast only consisted of four actors, which was a testament to both their talent and versatility. A thoroughly enjoyable and skillful performance with a message that relates to every audience member.