Joan Cleville's THE NORTH to Make World Premiere in Glasgow

In this new work co-commissioned by Tramway and The Place, choreographer Joan Clevillé (one of Tramway's 2017 Associate Artists) explores our fascination with the idea of North: the landscape, the light, the creatures that inhabit it, but also the people, the dark humour, the silence. The production will run 12th - 13th May in Tramway, Glasgow, as part of Dance International Glasgow, and 17th May at Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock.

Fresh from the success of their debut work Plan B for Utopia, The North creates a place with its own sense of time and space, where being lost is the norm, and letting go the only way to survive. Sourcing inspiration from film and literature, the company explores the concept of the elusive North through the tale of one man's whimsical journey through a barren landscape.

With original music composed by Luke Sutherland (former collaborator of Mogwai) and a striking lighting design by Emma Jones, Joan Clevillé Dance merge their characteristically playful style of dance and physical theatre with puppetry. The North will feature dancers Solène Weinachter (Lost Dog, Gecko, Scottish Dance Theatre), John Kendall (balletLORENT), and Eve Ganneau (Andersson Dance, Scottish Dance Theatre). Following the world premiere Joan Clevillé Dance will be bringing both The North and Plan B for Utopia, which has been selected as part of the British Council Showcase and Made in Scotland Showcase, to the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Artistic Director Joan Clevillé said, "The idea of the 'North' is different for everybody, depending on where you are geographically, and is also permanently elusive, as it always recedes as you move towards it. The North we describe in the piece is a place of the imagination, a liminal space in between places, somewhere between a limbo and a waiting room. There is definitely a Nordic feel to it, but it's open, desolate and unpredictable. Rather than realistically describing one environment, which cinema is so good at, I am more interested in the human experience. I wanted to evoke a sense of disorientation, of being humbled by an environment that is stronger than us and that forces us to let go in order to survive.

"As Tramway's Associate Artist, I am thrilled to premiere our second full-length production as part of DIG. It's been amazing to continue our collaboration with the team of artists that created Plan B for Utopia. Our followers will recognise the playfulness and versatility of our performers, but this new work has an intriguing, almost cinematic feel, that we hope will take audiences on a completely different journey."

Joan Clevillé Dance is an independent Dance Company based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. Led by Artistic Director Joan Clevillé, the company's practice is rooted both in movement research and experimentation with theatre and storytelling, challenging the conventional boundaries between genres. The company aims to create intimate works that are honest, original and thought-provoking, inviting audiences to share the performers' enquiry about themselves, each other, and the world we live in.

Running from Friday 21 April to Sunday 21 May, Dance International Glasgow (DIG) will feature a stunning range of contemporary dance from some of today's most exciting choreographers, directors and companies, performed at Tramway and off-site in Glasgow.

For more information, visit www.joanclevilledance.com.

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IF YOU GO:

THE NORTH

Conceived and directed by Joan Clevillé
Choreography by Joan Clevillé with the dancers
Dramaturgy by Ella Hickson
Costume and Set Design by Matthias Strahm
Original Music and Sound Design by Luke Sutherland
Lighting Design by Emma Jones
Additional music by Richard Wagner, Mazzy Star, Nukariik, Klavdiya Shulzhenko, and Frank Sinatra
Cast: Eve Ganneau, John Kendall, Solène Weinachter

12 - 13 May Tramway, Glasgow
25 Albert Drive, G41 2PE
8pm | £12 (£9)
www.DIGlasgow.com | 0845 330 3501

17 May Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock
Custom House Quay, PA15 1HJ
1.30pm | £10 (£5)
beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723

Edinburgh Festival dates to be announced.

Running Time: 60 minutes | Suitable for ages 12+

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