Knots

CoisCéim’s Knots was a fascinating piece of dance theatre that piled on the action for most of its 90 minutes in a whirlwind of terrific, high-energy dancing. Taking its title from the book by RD Laing, this show managed to be both highly entertaining and surprisingly thought-provoking, delving way beneath the surface as various Jacks and Jills got caught up in the tortuous cycle of the blame game.

We spend our lives looking for the perfect partner with whom we can ‘Tie the Knot’, and when we think we’ve found them, we spend the rest of our lives examining the frayed ends.

Using brutal and high-octane choreography and the insightful writings of psychoanalyst R.D. Laing, KNOTS takes us through a series of passionate physical and verbal confrontations as it tries to unravel the twists and turns of life with someone else.

The production was inspired by R.D. Laing’s book ‘Knots’. In this book he uses his experience in psychotherapy and couples’ therapy to examine the ways in which our minds interfere with our personal relationships. The dynamic twists, turns and convolutions in our relationships are played out in dialogue scenarios. It was these scenarios that the director and cast used as their starting point to create a piece which fuses text and movement.

Guest choreographer Liam Steel (of DV8 fame) has pushed CoisCéim into new territory, physically and emotionally….it is a confident response to the vexed question of whether dance can communicate ideas

This exhilarating devised production directed by Liam Steel, is the most accomplished to date in CoisCéim’s ongoing project to merge the aesthetics and skills of contemporary dance and theatre. The performers astound in their ability to perform complex choreography while acting with complete emotional commitment. Their vivacity undercuts what could otherwise have become a bleak vision of the possibility of happy union.

The Fringe’s “Knots” was the outstanding production of both festivals.

This is not a piece of work that “contemporary dance” virgins (or sceptics) need be afraid of – it’s accessible to the point of being in yer face. And the vulgarity and burlesque of the sexual game that they play on stage produces moments of beauty too. This is dance with a jagged edge…


Performed at

US TOUR

Kasser Theater

Montclare State University, New Jersey, USA

6 - 9 March 2008

US Tour

Edison Theater

St.Louis, Missouri, USA

29 February - 1 March 2008

US Tour

Irvine Berkeley Theater

California, USA

26 February 2008

UK Tour

Southbank Centre

London, United Kingdom

8 - 9 December 2007

UK Tour

Welsh Millennium Centre

Cardiff, United Kingdom

4 - 5 December 2007

Irish Tour

Project Arts Centre

Dublin

27 November - 1 December 2007

UK TOUR

The Lowry

Salford, United Kingdom

22 - 23 November 2007

UK TOUR

Komedia

Brighton, United Kingdom

14 - 16 November 2007

UK Tour

Nuffield Theatre

Southampton, United Kingdom

8 - 10 November 2007

Tour

Theatre IM Pfalzbau

Ludwighshafen, Germany

31 October - 1 November 2007

Tour

Venice Biennale 5th International Dance Festival

Venice, Italy

29 - 30 June 2007

UK TOUR

Tron Theatre

Glasgow, Scotland

2 September 2006

UK TOUR

Aurora Nova

Edinburgh, Scotland

4 - 28 August 2006

TOUR

Kleines Haus

Freiburg, Germany

15 July 2006

Irish Tour

Cork Opera House

Cork

28 February 2006

Irish Tour

Mermaid Arts Centre

Bray

25 February 2006

Irish Tour

Backstage Theatre

Longford

23 February 2006

Irish Tour

An Grianán Theatre

Letterkenny

21 February 2006

Irish Tour

Pavilion Theatre

Dún Laoghaire

18 February 2006

Irish Tour

Town Hall Theatre

Galway

15 February 2006

Irish Tour

Glór Theatre

Ennis

13 February 2006

Irish Tour

Ardhowen Theatre

Enniskillen

9 February 2006

Irish Tour

Civic Theatre

Tallaght

7 February 2006

Premiere | Dublin Fringe Festival

Samuel Beckett Theatre

Dublin

21 - 29 September 2005


Credits

Cast Muirne Bloomer, David Bolger, Robert Jackson, Eddie Kay, Emma O’Kane, Diane O’Keefe

Director Liam Steel
Set & Costume Ferdia Murphy
Lighting Ian Scott
Sound Alexis Nealon
Production Manager Rob Furey
Stage Manager Fearga O’Doherty
Chief LX Aidan Wallace
Sound Engineer Alexis Nealon
Graphic Design ALPHABET SOUP