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The Arts Hour: Backstage: Dystopian Dream

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Sadler's Wells - Dystopian Dream no. 2

02/02/2019 GMT

Backstage: Dystopian Dream

BBC World Service - The Arts Hour, Backstage: Dystopian Dream

Behind the scenes of a big dance performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London

Nikki Bedi peeks behind the curtain of a dance performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, for an insight into how a show is put together and a big theatre is run

Nikki Bedi is backstage at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London speaking to the cast and creatives behind dance performance Dystopian Dream – finding out how a big show is put together and peeking behind the curtain for a glimpse of how a theatre is run.

Celebrated British musician and composer Nitin Sawhney speaks about his 2015 album, also called Dystopian Dream. Written following the death of his father, the record has inspired this onstage spectacle.

German-Korean and Franco-Spanish duo Honji Wang and Sébastien Ramirez are the dancers, choreographers and directors for Dystopian Dream. They describe the inspiration behind their moves (from flamenco to hip hop) and the gravity defying aerial work that sees performers flying above the stage.

Singer Eva Stone joins Honji and Sébastien onstage – acting, interacting and singing live throughout the show, even when suspended from the rafters or carrying Honji on her back! She tells Nikki about her emotional preparations ahead of each performance.

Animator Nick Hillel explains how you create video that duets with dancers. Sadler’s Wells CEO Alistair Spalding gives his thoughts on why dance is so popular these days. The crew behind Dystopian Dream show us how they control their flying stars, discuss how the show is moved around the world and what goes on in the wings at show time. Plus – we hear about surprising deposits in the cloak room and how ushers deal with helium balloons.

Image: Eva Stone, Honji Wang and Sébastien Ramirez. Photographed in Luxembourg, 2017, Credit: Johan Persson

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