Nocturne

In this urgent sleepless city
Restless, we are caught in motion
Nearly stillness
Almost lovers

Marc Brew company pull back the sheets on exhausted embraces and near misses in the night. Inspired by JM Whilstler’s Nocturne, an exquisite contemporary dance quartet draw you into the unseen dreams of cities at dusk.

Nocturne was conceived and created by choreographer Marc Brew in collaboration with designer-dramaturg Luke Pell. With original music from composer Gary Lloyd which features recording of cello performed by Luke Moore and prose (written by Luke Pell) spoke by Iain Banks, author of the Wasp Factory.

Nocturne was commissioned for Liberty Festival in Trafalgar Square 2008 as a short outdoor duet. In 2009, it was developed with thanks to commissions from Greenwich and Docklands International Festival and the Without Walls Street Arts Consortium.

Four dancers perform this dynamic work with two specially built double beds. The day to day of couples and domesticity, unfolds into an evening of restless dreams. The work has been created to be versatile for viewing in unusual spaces and as such is suitable for outdoor courtyard spaces, indoor atrium spaces and theatre spaces with raked seatings and can also be performed as a duet (approx.10min).

Duration: approx. 20min

Creative Team:

Marc Brew – Choreographer and dancer
Luke Pell – Design/Dramaturg
Gary Lloyd – Composer
Luke Moore – Cello
Iain Banks – Spoken word
Factory Settings – Construction and realisation of beds
Roswitha Chesher – Photo