Hocus Pocus, The Studio, Review

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Rating (out of 5)
3
Show info
Company
Edinburgh International Festival
Production
Philippe Saire (Concept and Choreography), Phillippe Chosson & Mickaël Henrotay-Delaunay (Choreography in collaboration with dancers), Léo Piccirelli (Stage device realisation), Julie Chapallaz & Hervé Jabveneau (Props and accessories), Stéphane Vecchione (Sound Design), Vincent Scalbert (Technical Director), Cédric Berthoud (Construction), Edvard Grieg (Music from Peer Gynt)
Performers
Mickaël Henrotay-Delaunay & Ismael Oiartzabal
Running time
45mins

Hocus Pocus tends to bring witches, cauldrons and rhyming incantations to the forefront of the mind, but in Phillippe Saire’s captivating new piece dance, physical theatre, visual art and lighting trickery have been brewed together to form something really quite special.

The eager eyes of children and adults alike are met with two bright strips of lights with nothing but a black void between them. Until something emerges. What is that? Is it human? Is that an arm? Or a leg? Contorting themselves from this boxlike void are two extremely flexible dancers, Mickaël Henrotay-Delaunay and Ismael Oiartzbal. As they meld their bodies into a plethora of different pictures and poses,unusual props begin to appear. They fall into the grasp of a spider’s web, battle a warrior seemingly from another world and end up in the belly of a beast.

Matching the beauty of Saire’s choreography is Edvard Grieg’s music selection from Peer Gynt - particularly when our agile avengers find themselves in a Pinocchio style plight of being swallowed by a whale.

Visually spectacular Saire’s piece is a beautiful tale of how bravery and confidence can overcome darkness and fear. Aimed at children from seven years old, this is a production suitable to wow the whole family.

Runs 10 - 12 Aug