Nova Grace Productions’ captivating performance, “Unlocked,” took place in Brighton on the 25th and 26th of May, offering a moving reflection on the pandemic and its aftermath. Choreographer Karen Hill collaborated with professional dancers over Zoom during lockdown, rehearsing four 15-minute sections that were shared with a virtual audience in December 2020 and later adapted to a live performance on stage, with dancers performing in Gosport, London, Brighton, Bath, and Wandsworth on different dates throughout May and June 2023.
I had the privilege of being invited to this 90-minute performance, held at Fabrica during the Brighton Fringe. The team and dancers were very welcoming and contributed to the positive atmosphere in the room before the performance began. I took my seat on the right-hand side of the vertical stage and observed the props on stage, which made me anticipate what to expect as this was my first contemporary dance performance.
The atmosphere of the venue felt like the perfect place for this sort of performance. The large open space at Fabrica created a nice contrast with the small stage area surrounded by audience members on each side. The sudden beginning of the performance was unexpected, perhaps a reference to the unexpected beginning of Covid.
In the first part, there was adequate space between the dancers and no interaction between them. I soon realised that the layout of the stage would make it difficult to watch each dancer at the same time while they performed different routines at times. Sometimes, I found myself watching the live dancers or the virtual performance on screen.
I loved how the dancers seamlessly blended with real clips, which were projected on a big screen, showcasing their journey over the two years during COVID. These highlighted the struggles the dancers faced when rehearsing virtually, all within the limiting spaces of their own homes.
I was impressed with their synchronisation and attention to detail; they seamlessly transitioned from moments of sadness to uplifting and fun sequences, leaving a lasting impact on everyone in the room as they watched. My favourite part of the performance was how the dancers used doorframes as props, especially when they fitted themselves perfectly within the space. I also really liked how they had designated blue chairs, which the dancers used to perform parts of the dance routine next to some audience members.
The music reflected what was going on at any given moment and evoked a range of emotions. I also liked that at times there were real clips and newspaper headlines being projected on the screen.
Towards the end of the performance, the black outfits turned into colourful ones, which to me represented finding hope in it all. The dancers also performed impressive solos on stage before coming together to finalise the performance.
The ending of ‘Unlocked’ was followed by a 30-minute Q&A session where audience members had the opportunity to share their thoughts and ask questions. The discussion highlighted the immense teamwork of the dancers, as well as the creative incorporation of props and tasks assigned by Karen during their virtual practices. It was mentioned that Karen gave the dancers tasks such as ‘What shapes can you make inside the doorframe?’ among others, which were evidently incorporated throughout the live performance.
After leaving, I took some time to reflect on the fantastic job their team did to create a representation of the pandemic through contemporary dance and how they were able to immerse the audience in a thought-provoking experience.
The performance was recognised as the Best Newcomer at the Brighton Fringe Awards 2023, a reflection of the creativity of Nova Grace Productions. Big congratulations to the dancers Syanne Day, Jo-Anna McGregor, Em-j Smith & Melanie Cox, and choreographer Karen, along with the other team members at Nova Grace Productions.
If you missed out on the opportunity to attend this performance, you can watch clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIvVmX4kVefj0ZiGAJi9HlQ
Make sure to keep an eye out on their website for future performances: http://www.novagraceproductions.com/
All image credits in this article go to Nova Grace Productions.
