Review: Particle Velocity at Northern Stage

Particle Velocity
 
Northern Stage 10th October 2013.
A Phoenix Dance Theatre Production

 
 
 
Particle Velocity is a production of four energetic dance pieces that weave music and dance together with a sense of purpose.
 
The show opens with ‘All Alight’ in which 7 dancers move with subtle grace and poise to the often energetic strains of Ravel’s ‘Sonata for Violin and Cello’. Richard Alston’s choreography is the first indication that the Phoenix Dance Theatre intend to use the full extent of the wide stage that Stage 1 at this venue offers.
 
Jose Agudo’s ‘Ki’ starts in one corner and as the score by Vinz starts to pulsate the action increasing spreads across the stage.  This is a tale of a boy that will become legend. Even from the beginning when we only see the back of the dancer the raw physical nature of the piece is broadcast to the audience.
 
An eclectic musical compilation follows the turbulent relationship in Douglas Thorpe’s ‘Tender Crzy Love’.  The couple grind out a frantic love affair to musical gems such as Dick Dale and his Del-Tones ‘Miserlou’ and Nancy Sinatra’s classic ‘Bang Bang (He Shot Me Down)’. The nature of close yet antagonistic relationships are helped by the clever lighting design by Andy Waddington.
 

The show closes with the Phoenix Artistic Director Sharon Watson’s own ‘Repetition of Change’. In an intriguing insight into the double helix world of DNA we have the company performing the complex structures. The 9 dancers are utilised to move elegantly to the specially composed music by Kenneth Hesketh. The theory of base pairs is brought to life in a fabulous conclusion to the evening.
 

The show closes at Newcastle Northern Stage on Friday 11th October. The tour then moves to Hull:
 

Tuesday 15th October

Hull New Theatre
Tickets: £15, Concessions £12, Students £7.50
Box office: 01482 300 300
 

Thursday 17th October

The Atkinson, Southport
Tickets: £10 / £8 concessions / £6 schools
Box office: 01704 533 333

Wednesday 6th November - Thursday 7th November

York Theatre Royal
Tickets: £10 - £18, £8 students & u25s, concessions available
Box office: 01904 623568

Saturday 9th November

Clwyd Theatr Cymru
Tickets:
TBC
Box office: 0845 330 3565
 

Tuesday 19th November - Saturday 23rd November

Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House

Box office: 020 7304 4000

Thursday 28th November

Curve Theatre, Leicester
Tickets: £15. £10 concessions
Box office: 0116 242 3595


Words: Steve Oliver

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