‘We Caliban’ – world asunder in Shakespeare’s and choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh’s ‘new’ lands dance
New work by leading UK choreographer comes to the capital for the first time…
SHOBANA JEYASINGH CBE is one of the country’s leading choreographers and there is huge anticipation for her ‘We Caliban’ as it enjoys its London premiere on Tuesday (April 21-23) at Sadler’s Wells East at the Olympic Park in Stratford, London.
In a video interview with www.asianculturevulture.com (see below), she explained what had led her to create a work from Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and that too, focus on a character that is in the margins and on the periphery of the action, as the great bard conceived it.
Jeyasingh’s wisdom is to look underneath and explore uncomfortable ideas and thoughts and turn them into dance and spectacle – that not only entertain but encourage, question and possibly even, provoke.
‘We Caliban had its world premiere last year in Suffolk and was described as “magical’ by a leading European dance publication.
In our interview, Jeyasingh explores the primordial nature of the drama – this is about survival and hope amidst hugely disruptive change.
In Jeysasingh’s work, Prospero and his daughter arrive on an island to find Caliban already there – living a quiet life?
Perhaps… he knows the island, in ‘We Caliban’, Jeyasingh presents a society at once at ease and relatively unfractured and then suddenly a ‘foreigner’ comes in preaching and casting a critical eye on Caliban – as Jeyasingh says in our exchange, Caliban is close to the word Cannibal and so for Shakespeare, Caliban is an unthinking, cruel and violent man.
Jeyasingh turns him into something more positive, benign, curious even (?) In her work, Caliban builds a friendship with Miranda, teaches her new things and there is familiarity and hints at something more – we have not seen ‘We Caliban’.
Her father is not impressed and must exert his power (and mastery).
Those familiar with ‘The Tempest’ will understand what Jeyasingh is attempting – a reinterpretation, a re-reading of the power dynamic – but by looking in the margins.
“His (referring to Caliban himself) life is changed forever when the power games of distant lands and unknown peoples are played out on his own remote island, making him a ‘monstrous’ servant to a new master, Prospero, and his young daughter, Miranda.
“Violence is never far from Caliban – whether it is meted out to him or the way he resists his captivity and forced labour,” said Jeyasingh, who started out dancing in the Indian classical dance form, bharatanatyam.
She asks us to go back to the 16th century and the beginnings of Colonialism and England’s ambition for new land, spices and goods (including people) to trade.
“It’s a visceral and potent dance theatre, drawing on present day parallels, as well as the personal experiences of myself and my dramaturg, Uzma Hameed,” Jeyasingh stated in a press release.
The stage is set – there is specially commissioned music from French composer Thierry Pécou with whom Jeyasingh collaborated in 2022 for Opera du Rhin’s ‘Until the Lions’.
We are delivered into the age of Elizabeth The First – and her edicts and praise of Sir Walter Raleigh and his domination of other lands – appear early in the dance.
The dancers are Tanisha Addicott, Gabriel Ciulli, George Gregory, Oliver Mahar, Harry Ondrak-Wright as Prospero, Tabitha O’Sullivan, Raul Reinoso Acanda as Caliban and Holly Vallis as Miranda.
The lighting design is by Floriaan Ganzevoort with set and costume design by Mayou Trikerioti.
This is a co-production Sadler’s Wells with support from DanceEast and DANSOX.
London awaits…eagerly…
Foteini Christofilopoulou
Listing
‘We Caliban’ by Shobana Jeyasingh, from Tuesday, April 21-23
Sadler’s Wells East, 101 Carpenters Road, London E20 2AR (Olympic Park).
Last tickets: Here
