An Accident

This exciting new collaboration between Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Marc Brew unravels moments in our lives through dance, exploring difficult things with/without words using storytelling, film, music, dance and a car.

Their starting point was sharing life stories and key moments of change. For Marc, this was his car accident, where he went from ballet dancer to paraplegic in a split second. An Accident follows on from Brew’s notable solos, ‘For Now I am…’ and ‘Remember When’, both critically and publicly celebrated.

“harrowing beauty and luminous, life-affirming spirit” – The Herald (about For Now, I am…)

Trailer by De-Da Productions

Creative Team
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui – Director
Marc Brew – Performer and co-creator
Pepijn Van Looy – Designer
Veerle Van den Wouwer – Costume Stylist
Alexandre Dai Castaing – Composer
Lewis Landini – Camera Operator/Stagehand
Adam Carree – Lighting Consultant

Creative Support
Hayley Earlam – Rehearsal Director
Susan Worsfold- Voice Consultant
EJ McHenry – Audio Describer
Yvonne Strain – BSL Interpreter
Lars Boot – Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui PA
Melanie Wilson – Marc Brew PA
Ivy Gamboa – Alexandre Dai Castaing’s Manager
Floris Van Looy, Tanker – Art Direction & Production
Robbie Van Nieuwenhove, Tanker
Koen Luypaert , Tanker – Construction

Producing & Production
Susan Hay – Creative Producer
Gert Van Overloop – Producer
Stephan Laks- Artistic Associate
Jonas Schildermans – Marketing
Joy Parkinson – Press & Communications
Rebecca Doggett – Marketing
Grahame Coyle – Production Manager
Mickey Graham – Stage Manager
Katy Steele – Stage Manager
Lewis Landini – Camera Operator/Stagehand
Richie Dempsey – Sound Engineer
Ali Low – Rigger
Jamie Wardrop – Video Engineer
David Street – Film Producer

If you would like more information about the project, please contact our Producer, Susan Hay

  • In a theatre studio Marc sits with a raised black hood, in a vintage white car. A lady with long brown hair and pink jumper has our back to us, her gaze towards Marc.
    image: Melanie Wilson
  • In a dance studio, Marc peers over the top of the back of his black wheelchair, hands extended onto the arms of the chair.
    image: Susan Hay
  • In a dance studio, Marc is laid flat on the floor, his arms stretched out above his head. His wheelchair sits on top of him, trapping his head between the footrest and his arms between the wheels.
    image: Susan Hay
  • In a dance studio Marc counter balances his wheelchair from the floor, where he lies on his back.
    image: Susan Hay
  • From seated on the floor Marc leans his body against his wheelchair, holding onto the wheel.
    Image: Susan Hay
  • marc sits on a grey sofa, arms stretched along the back of it. The back drop is black. Above his head, suspended in the air is a small white car, illuminating him with its headlights.
  • a small white car sits centre stage. Marc is seated inside, leaning out of the window gesticulating with his right hand
  • The stage is dark. There are multiple large screens across the stage with a masked face repeated across them. In the centre of the screens is a small white car, upended onto its nose on the stage, it's boot in the air. The bonnet is open and there is a TV in the bonnet with the same image of the masked face. Infront of the car sits Marc in scrubs and a surgical mask. Infront of him a person with their back to us, dressed in black films him with a camera.
  • Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui sits in the passenger seat of a small white care. Marc is in the drivers seat. They're smiling. The cars headlights are lit. They're on a stage with a black dance floor. We can see Marc's wheelchair in the background behind them.

An Accident in Development. Images: De Da Productions, Susan Hay, Melanie Wilson.

Funders and supporters:

Initial residency hosted by Tanzplattform Rhein-Main, a project of Hessisches Staatsballett and Künstlerhaus Mousonturm.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

Co-produced by the Hessisches Staatsballett in the frame of Tanzplattform Rhein-Main, a collaboration project between the Hessisches Staatsballett in Staatstheater Darmstadt and Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden and Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt.

Co-produced with Holland Dance Festival.

In co-production with Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps.

Performance co-commission Tramway.