Hidden Malvern Theatres, Motionhouse, 13 May 2025, 5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: Hannah Phillips.

Photo Credit: Dan Tucker.

Hidden Malvern Theatres, Motionhouse, 13 May 2025,

5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: Hannah Phillips.

Hidden is co-commissioned by FABRIC, Birmingham Hippodrome and Warwick Arts Centre.

 

An extensive premiere tour across the UK and Europe, which will be followed by a second tour starting later this year, with touring continuing into 2027 and beyond.

 

Runs 1 hour 55 minutes including a 25-minute interval for a set change.

 

“Spectacular bodies defying gravity and taking risk in the safety of each other’s arms.”

Internationally renowned dance-circus company Motionhouse thrilled and moved audiences at Malvern Theatres with their breathtaking new production, Hidden. Thought-provoking and poignant, Hidden explores how, in an increasingly divided world, light can come out of darkness in times of crisis. In recent times when radical-right Reform UK is gaining ground, the courts have rolled back transgender rights and there is conflict and challenge around the world, humanity feels as if it is in a state of crisis. Motionhouse’s Artistic Director, Kevin Finnan offers Hidden as an invitation to reflect on what is important to us in these challenging times we find ourselves in.

In a time of crisis, the arts remind us we are not alone and that we share a universal human experience. We can feel deep emotions together, find connections and collectively create impact and change. Hidden is ambitious, experimental with the physically demanding, breathtaking moments we have become accustomed to with Motionhouse’s work. It would be easy to forget about the incredible skill, strength and talent that each of the dancers possess because it appears effortless. Spectacular bodies defying gravity and taking risk in the safety of each other’s arms.

The set is integral to the work, designed by Simon Dorman, the dancers move the metal structures around the space, using them to climb and jump from, they create endless possibilities and shapes. The structures are covered in fabric for projection purposes, but the film projection created by Logela Multimedia and Barret Hodgson follows the moving structures on stage, creating and moving between new worlds synchronized with the original score by Tim Dickenson and Sophie Smith. Thrilling live performance intersected with an innovative use of film and digital technology; however, it is the human story that prevails. What does it mean to be human in an increasingly digitalized world? This is a show about connection. From individual beings, the dancers become one body, interconnected and fused together. They save each other as they enter the light. We are reminded that we heal through our bodies and we heal through connection with others.

Thank you, Motionhouse!

 

CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY

Kevin Finnan

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Daniel Massarella

CHOREOGRAPHY BY

Kevin Finnan, Daniel Massarella and the cast

PERFORMERS

Alex De La Bastide, Olly Bell, Llewelyn Brown, Dylan Davies, Blair Moore, Sophie O'Leary and Beth Pattison

PRODUCED BY

Louise Richards

SET DESIGN

Simon Dormon

METAL FABRICATION

Davey Boyall and Arcangel

FABRIC WRANGLING

Melanie Nute

ORIGINAL SCORE

Tim Dickinson and Sophy Smith

DIGITAL IMAGERY

Logela Multimedia

VIDEO DESIGN AND DISGUISE PROGRAMMER

Barret Hodgson

CREATIVE CONSULTANT AND CONTENT DEVELOPMENT (FILM)

Leon Finnan

COSTUME DESIGN AND CREATION

Cathy Eddolls

TECHNICAL MANAGER AND LIGHTING DESIGN

Andrew Hammond

ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER

Geneviève Giron

D3 OPERATOR AND TOURING TECHNICIAN

George Pamplin

STAGE MANAGER

Will Blundell

CO-COMMISSIONED BY

FABRIC, Birmingham Hippodrome and Warwick Arts Centre

CREATED WITH SUPPORT FROM

John Ellerman Foundation and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK

 

 

 

HIDDEN WORLD PREMIERE TOUR

Thu 6 – Sun 9 Feb 2025, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

Fri 14 Feb 2025, Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Tue 25 Feb 2025, Lighthouse, Poole

Sat 1 Mar 2025, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield 

Sat 15 Mar 2025, Theater Fürstenfeld, Germany 

Tue 18 Mar 2025, Burghof Lörrach, Germany

Fri 21 Mar 2025, Teo Otto Theater, Remscheid, Germany

Wed 26 Mar 2025, Parktheater Iserlohn, Germany

Sat 29 Mar 2025, Scharoun-Theater Wolfsburg, Germany

Wed 9 – Sat 12 Apr 2025, Baltoppen LIVE, Ballerup, Denmark

Thu 24 – Sat 26 Apr 2025, New Theatre Peterborough  

Fri 2 – Sat 3 May 2025, Theatre Royal Winchester

Tue 13 May 2025, Malvern Theatres  

Tue 20 – Wed 21 May 2025, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

Autumn/Winter Tour

Fri 10 – Sat 11 Oct 2025, Birmingham Hippodrome 

Wed 15 Oct 2025, Hall for Cornwall, Truro

 

Thu 6 Nov 2025, Cast, Doncaster 

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Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony Hall, Birmingham 15th May 2025, 3☆☆☆. Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.

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Bat Out Of Hell - Theatre Royal Plymouth 12 May, runs until 17 May 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: Indigo Cleverley.