Preview: BLKDOG at Newcastle Northern Stage

Far From The Norm

BLKDOG

Newcastle Northern Stage

Tuesday 10^th March 2020

Vital and gripping, BLKDOG is the Olivier Award-winning work from Botis Seva, exploring coping mechanisms in youth culture. Co-produced by Far From The Norm and Sadler’s Wells, BLKDOG tours the UK in spring 2020 with performances at Newcastle’s Northern Stage in March.

A genre-defying blend of hip hop dance and free form antics, the latest edition of BLKDOG explores the inner battlefield of an ageing artist trying to retain his youth. Performed by Seva’s powerhouse company Far From The Norm, BLKDOG searches for coping mechanisms in the ultimate hunt for acceptance.  

An excerpt of BLKDOG was originally performed at Sadler’s Wells in Autumn 2018 as part of an evening of new commissions to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the current Sadler’s Wells theatre. 

Established in May 2009, Far From The Norm was founded by artistic director Botis Seva and is a collective of dance artists renowned for experimenting with hip hop form whilst tackling socio-political concerns. Far From The Norm’s work portfolio crosses theatre performances, outdoor spectacles and immersive experiences that are renowned for challenging yet inspiring their audiences. The company is committed to producing evocative, authentic work by taking audiences on visceral journeys whilst presenting conceptual yet compelling truths.  

In August 2018, Seva collaborated with Billy Boyd Cape to create a short film, Reach, commissioned by Sadler’s Wells as part of Channel 4’s Random Acts series. Far From The Norm has previously performed at Sadler’s Wells with Breakin’ Convention and curated a Wild Card evening. Seva was Guest Artistic Director of National Youth Dance Company, run by Sadler’s Wells, in 2018 – 2019 and is currently one of four choreographers working on a new commission with Northern Contemporary Dance School’s postgraduate company, VERVE.

BLKDOG’s music comes from long-standing collaborator Torben Lars Sylvest who has also worked with Scottish Dance Theatre and Ivan Blackstock; costume is being created by Ryan Dawson Laight whose credits include Gary Clark Company’s WASTELAND and Aakash Odedra Company’s #JeSuis; and lighting comes from Tom Visser, also known for his creations with Nederlands Dance Theater and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artists Hofesh Shechter and Crystal Pite.

BLKDOG is coproduced by Far From The Norm and Sadler’s Wells and supported by Arts Council England.

Photos: Camilla Greenwell

Tickets:

https://www.northernstage.co.uk/Event/blkdog

Box Office: 0191 230 5151