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Home , Mercury Prize, Nitin Sawhney

Dystopian Dream

Nitin Sawhney, Sébastien Ramirez, and Honji Wang

A Sadler’s Wells Production

WHEN: VENUE: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4 MEMORIAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 AUDITORIUM 7∶30 PM

Production photography by Johann Persson Program Credits

Dystopian Dream Original Concept, Co-Devised and A Sadler’s Wells Production. Coproduced by Wang Ramirez / Clash 66; Album Composer: Direction and Choreography: Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg; Théâtre de la Ville-Paris; Wang Ramirez Stanford Live; Théâtre de l’Achipel, scène nationale de Perpignan. Performed by Sébastien Ramirez, Honji Wang and Eva Stone With thanks to: Creative Consultancy: Farooq Chaudhry Hervé Le Bouc, Delphine Lombard, Béatrice Abeille Robin, Melih Yoru, Set Design: Shizuka Hariu Sandra Goldmann, Alex Frith, Tina Arena, Manon Martin, Jia Xuan Hon, Alex Firth, Video Design: Nick Hillel Tandem Scenery, Paddy Dell, Isabelle Drummond, Lucy White, Alec Kensit Sound Design: David McEwan Lighting Design: Natasha Chivers World Premiere: September 29, 2017, Costume Design: Hussein Chalayan Grand Theatre, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg Rehearsal Assistant: Winston Pyke Aerial consultancy: Jason Oettlé This program is generously supported by the Koret Foundation. Nitin Sawhney’s 2018-19 residency is supported by Production Manager: Adam Carrée the Stanford Presidential Residencies on the Future of the Arts. Touring Production Manager / Rigger: John Maddox Stage Manager / Rigger: Jef Mitchell Company Stage Manager: Maddie Cupples Video Programmer: MJ Holland Dystopian Dream is supported by COLAS. Head of Sound: Mark Webber Lighting Programmer / Relighter: Gerald McDermott Costume Supervisor: Roxanne Armstrong

Company Wang Ramirez—Clash66 receives the sponsorship of For Sadler’s Wells Colas “We open the way” for the production Dystopian Dream; Executive Producer: Suzanne Walker it receives generic structural support by Head of Producing & Touring: Regional Cultural Affairs Directorate Occitanie, Bia Oliveira by Regional council Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée, Senior Producer: Ghislaine Granger Producing & Touring Coordinator: by County council Pyrénées Orientales and by Foundation BNP Paribas. Florent Trioux Marketing Manager: Daniel King The program will last approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Press Officer: Alicia Powell PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please be considerate of others and turn off all phones, pagers, and watch alarms. Photography and recording of any kind are not permitted. Thank you.

2 A Word From Nitin Sawhney

infinite space and time, between life and to create a narrative onstage that death and between reality and dreams. evolves from the metaphor of a I once told a journalist that dystopian runner’s journey through parallel dream was like the light at the end of universes and dreams... an endless tunnel. We keep running but never move. In many ways the light This production uses a combination of

feels like a projection of meaning cutting edge projections, aerial and rather than a purposeful destination. contemporary choreography, dramatic performance and live and recorded I have been fortunate in having music, inviting the audience into an parallel careers as a composer for the unprecedented theatrical realisation of visual mediums of film, television, a completed and released album.” video games, theatre and dance so

Photo by Suki Dhanda the idea of a visual realisation of DYSTOPIAN DREAM TRACK LIST dystopian dream really appealed to

Although I make my living as a me. The album focusses on themes of 1. FIRES composer and produce records, I never loss, isolation, celebration and 2. DAYS R GONE surrender so these abstract ideas felt really started an album with music. 3. DARK DAY perfect for examination through Every time I make an album it’s more 4. TIMETRAP physical movement. like a personal diary entry than any 5. SILENCE kind of exploration of rhythm, harmony 6. LOSE US ALL or melody. I need the catharsis The grace and energy of Honji and 7. DYSTOPIA because it all begins with a feeling. Sébastien’s choreography felt like it had 8. SCAPE a great synergy with the concepts and 9. TERE KHYAL Dystopian Dream was initially a response emotions of my album and so we 10. WHEN I’M GONE to my father passing away and then begun our journey together in 2016 with 11. SPIRALS gradually became something else. It a show at London’s . 12. CAN’T BREATHE 13. KEEP THE LIGHT ON became my response to mortality and 14. REDSHIFT our search for our own significance As we continued our rehearsals 15. DIMENSION when we are sandwiched between produced by Sadler’s wells, we looked A Word From Wang Ramirez

We are excited to present the fruits of essence and the emotions that you one has its own particularity, a piece this collaboration. From an existing feel by listening to each of his tracks. based on an existing album. album, Dystopian Dream, to a dance Getting to know where his mind was What will be shown on stage is the theatre piece, it has been a long journey and what his inspirations were while result of our interpretation of what has of reflections, exchanges and try outs creating his music. been discussed, researched, felt and for all the creatives in this project. exchanged during our meetings. Then it was our turn to digest and At the beginning of the process we reflect on all that heritage on stage In this process we tried to absorb all immersed ourselves in the world of and create a piece with all its aspects. emotions and feelings, and express Nitin Sawhney’s album as much as them with a vision and a language possible, trying to understand the Every creation is a challenge and this that are associated with what we do.

4 A Word From Our Sponsor

How could we not accompany between traces of the past, the present priority given to innovation. The Solar Dystopian Dream, when roads are at time and our representation of the road and the Porcelaine road have the very core of the story? future. Indissociable from quest, shattered our references: harvesting intellectual audacity and innovation, light to make energy accessible to all, Roads are the threads that bind. By roads unfold a continuous ribbon of the road paves the way to a new exploring the musical climate of dreams and projects. model, and Dystopian Dream, in its own composer Nitin Sawhney, way, beckons us. choreographers Honji Wang and The road embodies a forward-looking Sébastien Ramirez breathe life into the vision. Colas’ new corporate signature, Hervé Le Bouc human geology made up of We Open the Way, underlines the Chairman and CEO of Colas encounters and exchanges, a vector of singular narratives and collective myths. Leading figures in contemporary dance influenced by hip hop, combining cutting-edge technologies with singing and dancing, the performers venture out into territories to be discovered together, in a decor of roads of light, beacons of their respective itinerancies.

Dystopian Dream is a journey. Every seasoned traveler knows that along the way, on the road that transports us geographically from one point to another, an interior space inhabited by images and sensations gradually appears. Roads never cease to explore the intimate, building an in-between time when imagination abolishes borders and makes you want to take other paths. While roaming, roads slowly reveal their dark and luminous stories, infallible witnesses of the link

5 About the Artists

HONJI WANG Director, choreographer, performer Honji Wang is a dancer, choreographer and artistic director born and raised in Germany by Korean parents. Her dance language is an abstraction of hip hop dance and has influences of earlier martial arts and ballet training. She is recognised as an artist who brings contemporary and hip hop together in an exceptionally organic fashion.

Together with Sébastien Ramirez, Honji Wang received the Bessie Award 2013 as “Outstanding Performer” following the presentation of AP15 at the Apollo Theatre in New York. Their work Monchichi is also one of the 2017 Bessie Award nominees for “Outstanding Production” following its performance at BAM Fisher.

Wang was invited to Madonna’s final auditions in New York, where her outstanding performance earned her an invitation to tour and perform for the Rebel Heart Tour.

She was invited as a guest artist to perform a duo with acclaimed British choreographer titled The Shahin Novrasli. She also collaborated Molina in the duet Felahikum, as well Pursuit of Now, which was with the most compelling and avant- as with New York City Ballet principal accompanied by well-known pianist garde female flamenco dancer Rocío dancer Sara Mearns in the duet No.1.

6 SÉBASTIEN RAMIREZ He was also invited by Sadler’s Wells Sadler’s Wells (London), Apollo Theater Director, choreographer, performer as one of the five choreographers of (New York), Mercat de les Flors Born in the south of France, Sébastien RIOT OffSpring, a unique dance piece (Barcelona), and receives the support of Ramirez is an internationally performed to Igor Stravinsky’s iconic important international co-producers. renowned dancer, choreographer and The Rite of Spring played by artistic director. Ramirez specializes in Southbank Sinfonia. The company also receives company the use of aerial work as well as support by Regional Cultural Affairs choreographic rigging development. Directorate Occitanie, Regional council Since the foundation of his company, COMPANY WANG RAMIREZ of Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée he developed a new vision of space Sébastien Ramirez and Honji Wang and the County council Pyrénées and choreography, bringing hip hop cultivate a dance rooted in hip hop Orientales. dance to a wider and new audience. that incorporates all artistic languages. This French-Hispanic-Korean-German The Foundation BNP Paribas supports Together with Honji Wang, Ramirez has couple, inseparable in life as onstage the development of the Company’s produced and choreographed several translates their complicity in difference projects. award-winning dance-theatre pieces through artistic blending. Without (AP15, Monchichi, True Blue Market, denying their origins in urban dance, Honji Wang and Sébastien Ramirez Borderline, Felahikum, EVERYNESS, NO.1). they create works with multiple entries. are associated artists of Théâtre de la Their choreographic research results Ville, Paris and supported artists by Following the presentation of AP15 at the directly from their “blended” identities. l’Archipel, scène nationale de Apollo Theatre in New York, Sébastien In addition, their interrogations are Perpignan. Ramirez and Honji Wang received the based on human relationships, both Bessie Award 2013 as “Outstanding intimate and group. Confronted daily Performers”. Their work Monchichi is one to the realities of this new urban Nitin Sawhney of the 2017 Bessie Award nominees for mobility, they never seize to deepen Original Concept, Co-Devisor “Outstanding Production” following its their quest of finding new and Album Composer performance at BAM Fisher. choreographic languages. Their means Recipient of the 2017 Ivor Novello of expression are built on technical Lifetime Achievement Award, Nitin Ramirez contributed to the creation virtuosity, poetry, humour and the Sawhney is a producer, composer and phase of Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour questioning of human identities. multi-instrumentalist whose diverse in New York City and choreographed repertoire encompasses over 50 film for her live show. Acclaimed by the international scores. He has released 10 studio audience, the Company is invited in albums, the most recent being He conducted a personal training on major theatres and festivals, such as Dystopian Dream in November 2015 floorwork movement for the creation Théâtre de la Ville, La Villette and which has now been turned into a fully of Akram Khan’s solo DESH. Théâtre National de Chaillot (Paris), choreographed show.

7 Sawhney’s substantial theatre and dance credits include the scores for ’s Olivier Award-winning A Disappearing Number and Akram Khan’s also Olivier Award- winning Zero Degrees for which Nitin received a Bessie for best score. After scoring Bahok for the Royal Ballet of China, Sawhney’s composition for Khan’s Vertical Road received a best new work award in Melbourne. Sawhney also worked with Choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui on a production based on the life of Manga creator, Tezuka. Sawhney co- Among the many films scored by directed and appeared with Khan in number of successful club compilation Sawhney, the most recent is Mowgli a the internationally touring and albums, including Fabriclive 15. Warner Bros film being released in award-winning production, the Spring of 2019 through Confluence created for the Svapnagata Sawhney has become a modern-day and directed by . season at Sadler’s Wells which Renaissance man in the worlds of Currently, Sawhney is working on a 6 Sawhney also co-curated with Khan. music, film, videogames, dance, and part TV series for in the theater. His endless creative curiosity UK. He has also scored for high For all the above, Nitin has been the makes him a formidable polymath profile TV series (including the BBC’s recipient of a , two across the whole artistic range of media multiple BAFTA winning series Human previous Ivor Novello nominations, a associated with the music industry. Planet and the BBC series Wonders of MOBO award, two BBC Radio3 World the Monsoon), Cirque du Soleil, as well Music Awards, The Southbank Show as extensive work for video games Award, 7 University doctorates from Eva Stone (primarily Ninja Theory). Nitin has different British universities and most Singer also produced for many acclaimed recently was made a member of the Eva Stone is a singer from Newcastle and diverse artists from Sir Paul Academy of Motion Picture Arts and upon Tyne. After spending two years in McCartney and to Sciences. Nitin has also collaborated London supporting artists such as and , as well as with and scored for the London James Bay, George Ezra, Paolo Nutini, producing his own radio series on Symphony Orchestra as well as many Lianne La Havas and Tom Odell, Eva BBC Radio 2—Nitin Sawhney Spins the other leading orchestras across the was noticed by Sadler’s Wells Globe. world. As a DJ Nitin has also released a associate Nitin Sawhney and invited to

8 support him at the Royal Albert Hall. London’s Central Saint Martins school Since 2003 Chalayan has used film to Two years later, after recording and of art and design graduating in 1993 present some of the collections in performing with Sawhney on his with his debut collection being narrative form as well as making art Dystopian Dream album, not to purchased by iconic British retailer films and installations. His ideas often mention various radio and TV outlets, Browns. In 1994 Chalayan started his evolve around perception and the she was performing back at the own label and his designs have realities of modern life, with prestigious venue as part of his band. influenced the face of fashion and art particular interest in cultural identity, Eva is currently focused on her own ever since. Throughout his career migration, anthropology, technology project and on writing her first album. Chalayan has received global industry and genetics. recognition. Chalayan was nominated in 1995 for the Lloyds designer of the Chalayan represented Turkey in the Farooq Chaudhry year award and was the winner of the 2005 Venice Biennale with his film Creative Consultant first absolute creation award. The 2 Absent Presence featuring actress Tilda Farooq Chaudhry, co-founder and consecutive years that followed he was Swinton who starred as a biologist Producer of Akram Khan Company, nominated for the Lloyds designer of analysing the neurosis and paranoia plays a key role in forming innovative the year award. In 1998 Chalayan was around terrorism through the use of business models to support Akram nominated for the Avant Garde genetic testing. As well as taking part in Khan’s artistic ambitions and offering designer at the VH1 fashion awards important exhibitions in the Victoria and creative support during the following this in 1999 and 2000 he won Albert Museum in London, The Kyoto development of Khan’s projects. The the Designer of the Year at the British Costume Institute, The Metropolitan French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fashion Awards. This same year Vogue Museum of Art and MOMA in New York, acknowledged Chaudhry in a list of included Chalayan in a group of 12 Chalayan is one of the few designers the world’s top hundred cultural actors designers set to change the face of who has had critically acclaimed solo and entrepreneurs in 2008. Chaudhry fashion in the coming decade calling Museum shows beginning in 2005 at the also produced for China’s national him the “premier intellectual designer Groninger Museum in the Netherlands, dance icon Yang Liping and English of his generation”. In 2000 Chalayan London at the Design Museum (2009), National Ballet and was awarded an was also named in Time magazine’s the Museum of Contemporary Art in honorary doctorate from De Montfort list of the 100 most influential Tokyo (2010) and the Istanbul Modern University for his services to dance. innovators of the 21st century and later (2010). In 2010 Chalayan opened two was named by the magazine as one of exhibitions in London at the Lisson 100 all-time Fashion Icons. Gallery and Spring Projects and had his Hussein Chalayan last solo show at the Musee des Arts Costume Designer In 2002, Chalayan moved his Decoratifs in Paris (2011). In 1970 Hussein Chalayan was born in internationally lauded fashion show Cyprus’s capital, Nicosia. Chalayan from London to Paris where the In 2006 Hussein Chalayan was awarded grew up in London and studied at collection is shown seasonally. an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday

9 Honour’s list and Vogue declared his Finally in 2014 The Business of Fashion celebrities associated and pictured in spring show the following year, in which also declares Chalayan as one of top Chalayan creations, both at events metal animatronic dresses rapidly 500 influencers in the Fashion Industry. and on stage, have done so out of a morphed through more than a century genuine relationship and admiration. of silhouettes, a moment of pure magic. The Chalayan name is synonymous Chalayan was then awarded the Design for cutting edge design and In 2011 all eyes were on Lady Gaga Star Honoree by The Fashion Group innovation, not only within the when she arrived on the red carpet at International at their annual Night of fashion industry and fashion the iconic carried Stars Gala, New York. authorities but also with some of the inside a giant Chalayan egg shaped most ubiquitous celebrities and vessel in fibreglass. In 2009 the brand was nominated for tastemakers in the world. the Prince Phillip Design Award and The global acclaim and reaction to Chalayan was presented Outstanding Celebrity followers of the house of this architectural creation was just one Lifetime achievement award given Chalayan include Cate Blanchett, Katy example of Chalayan setting the bar from the FX International Interior Perry, Cameron Diaz, Blake Lively, Rita for fashion linking technology, art and Design awards. Ora, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Yao Chen, performance. Olivia Palermo, Delilah, Roisin Murphy, The label was rebranded as Chalayan , Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, in 2010. During the following years Eva Longoria, Bjork, Jeanne Damas, Natasha Chivers Chalayan won the lucky strike designer Zawe Ashton and many others. Lighting Designer award, the fashion visionary award in Natasha is an award-winning lighting occasion of the Audi fashion festival Chalayan as a brand has always designer for theatre and television. and the royal designer for industry operated with an organic, long-term Her theatre credits include 1984 from the RSA. strategy toward VIP Relations. All (West End, Broadway), Hamlet, Oresteia (Almeida/ West End); The House They Grew Up In (Chichester), Strapless (Royal Ballet); Sunset at the Villa Thalia, Statement of Regret (National Theatre); Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare’s Globe); Macbeth (National Theatre Scotland / Broadway); Happy Days (Sheffield); Green Snake (National Theatre China); The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning (National Theatre Wales); 27, The Wolves in the Walls, Home

10 (National Theatre Scotland); Sunday in the Park with George (West End). Natasha was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2016 for Oresteia (White Light Award for Best Lighting Design). She has won the Theatre Award UK in 2011 for Happy Days (Best Design) and an Olivier Award in 2007 for Sunday in the Park with George (Best Lighting Design).

Jason Oettlé Aerial Consultant Board Member of the BVS German stunt association, Chairing the work capacity I have run the aerial rigging in England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, group for the development of guidelines some great theatres around the world. Wales, Russia, China, Morocco, Jordan, for Stunt Rigging in Germany. India, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, My background is as a performer. Switzerland, South Africa, France, Member of the representative body from Starting with my first roles as a Iceland, Denmark, Poland, Romania, the BVS on the work group which was stuntman in 1996 in Cape Town, Hungary, Check Republic, Arab responsible for health and safety South Africa. Early on I had an Imarets and Luxembourg. guideline amendments for potentially appreciation for the stunt rigging, dangerous performances (German with my commercial skippers licenses, DGUV 810-12). The last few years I have I had a good understanding of basic Nick Hillel been involved primarily in the rigging. 2000 I moved to Germany. Video Designer coordination, or as a core team member Here, I continued to work as a stunt Yeast Culture create original and of the stunt and aerial rigging performer, and pursued my interest in immersive visuals and projection department. Predominantly these have wire effects. I qualified in Rope mapping for live events, performances been film and television. I have also run access in 2003, gaining extensive and installations. With over a decade the aerial rigging for events and opening experience in working at height and of experience the award winning ceremonies around the world. Often also stage rigging. company works across art forms involved in the concept design. blending film, live performance, In 2005 I started working more animation, documentary, set design One of my passions is aerial rigging internationally as an established and projection mapping. Their work design and support in the specialist in stunt rigging. This has featured in classical performances, contemporary dance scene. In this Included work in countries including contemporary dance, theatre and

11 galleries as well as visuals for live Vivaldi Recomposed—— She received awards, such as World bands for international tours. The Mari Samuelson Tony Visconti’s Stage Design 2017, D&AD Design London-based company was started Unsigned Heroes - Fabric of Award, German Design Award, Tokyo by creative director Nick Hillel in 1999 India @ V&A London. Classical Design Award, Pola Art Foundation as a place to discover innovative ways Spectacular, Royal Philharmonic Award. She exhibited and designed the of film-making and explore new ideas Orchestra—Royal Albert Hall London, exhibition at V&A London, Royal for unifying the stage and video in live Marshalls 50 Years of Loud—Wembley Academy of Arts London and other performance. Visit yeastculture.org. Arena, Human Planet—BBC. museums. (visit her works at www.shsh.be) David McEwan Sound Designer Shizuka Hariu Winston Pyke David McEwan is an MPG award- Set Designer Rehearsal Assistant winning multimedia sound engineer, Shizuka is an interdisciplinary designer Winston trained at the Hereford composer and music producer. A and a co-director at SHSH Architecture+ College of Arts. He has toured widely London-based Australian, David has Scenography. Her scenography both in the UK and internationally as mastered the art of sound in most describes the relationship between an actor, break dancer and aerialist. forms covering cinema, music concrete and imaginary space. She has Theatre includes Colin’s Head, Three for production, theater and television. designed scenography for Akram Khan Two, East, Abigail’s Party and Lark Rise to and Sylvie Guillem, Charleroi Dances, Candleford. TV includes Misfits and This project marks nearly 20 years of Les Ballet C de la B, Jubilee Opera, Doctor Who. He has appeared at the collaboration with Nitin Sawhney and Kunsten Festival des Arts, Japon Dance Edinburgh Fringe in 2008 with is David’s third production with Sadler’s Project and many others, throughout 2FaCeD and again in 2016 with his Wells. Other recent projects include Europe and beyond. own company Grounswell Theatre.

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