Chris Dyke working with Dancenorth on new production
A bold new work created and directed by a choreographer and dance living with Down syndrome will premiere at the Townsville Civic Theatre next month. Here’s why you need to see it.
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A bold new work created and directed by Adelaide-based choreographer and dancer Chris Dyke living with Down syndrome will premiere at the Townsville Civic Theatre next month.
Dyke is no stranger to the city having collaborated many times already with Townsville’s celebrated dance company Dancenorth.
Lighting the Dark will be the first time in Australia that an artist with intellectual impairment has developed a full-length work for a professional dance company.
The work comes to life from Dyke’s fruitful imagination inspired by his many heroes including David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, the street artist Banksy and also Batman, Superman and the Flash.
Dancenorth artistic director Kyle Page said Lighting the Dark was a masterpiece of collaboration and community bringing together Dyke with himself and associate artistic director Amber Haines, the Dancenorth ensemble, Andrew Treloar on set and costume, Anna Whittaker, composition and sound design and Chloe Ogilvie on lighting design.
“The collaborative process here at Dancenorth is truly that — truly collaborative,” Page said.
“We always acknowledge the fact that the more voices and hearts and minds contributing to an idea or a performance, the more we find something that will resonate with a greater diversity of audience members.”
Page said Dyke had been collaborating with Dancenorth for ten years in different solo works.
“But this year, we have commissioned Chris to make the main stage full length evening work for the company. The work will feature Chris as a performer and he’s the director of course, and seven of the Dancenorth ensemble members.
“It’s a first actually for an artist living with an intellectual disability to be commissioned by a mainstream contemporary dance company to create a work of this scale and we’re delighted to be able to host Chris in this way.
“Chris is the most creative individual I know so really, there’s no shortage of ideas. The process really is one of refinement and how we can find a thread through the performance that really invites the audience into a deeper relationship with the performers on stage but also one another.
“He is really hoping to fill the audience in the theatre with a sense of connection and friendship and joy and love and the process in the studio so far, really is reflective of that desire.”
Melbourne-based set designer Andrew Treloar is an old friend to Dancenorth having collaborated on several productions and said he always felt very welcome.
“It’s a really wonderful experience to be able to work with Chris and to get some insight into his world and to just to assist in creating that with a minimum of theatrical design.” he said.
“There’s a lot of things in this performance where what they do is more important than how it looks. My focus is more on gentle support. But not trying to overtake what is happening on the stage with visual.”
Page said Lighting the Dark is a magical work.
“I think Townsville audiences are familiar with the fact that they can expect the unexpected with Dancenorth performances and really that no two performances are alike.
“This is another gesture into that space where we’re inviting in this creative world of Chris and all of the dreams and fantasy and this kind of iconic sense of what is really cherished, important in his life.
“Chris is really inspired by the work of Banksy, the street artist, Freddie Mercury and Queen, David Bowie as well as a range of superheroes so Batman, Superman, the Flash - all of these personas weave together to create this kind of iconic landscape that is lighting the dark.”
Lighting the Dark premieres at the Townsville Civic Theatre on June 14 and 15 and for tickets go to What’s On Townsville.
More Coverage
Originally published as Chris Dyke working with Dancenorth on new production
Biggest Townsville headlines from May 2024
The month of May began with headlines focused on then Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson and ended with him.
Get job ready: Business offers 17 free training opportunities
Staying true to a promise to his grandmother, a Townsville businessman is offering free training to 17 school leavers, unemployed, or under-employed people. Find out more.