EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- 5 Soldiers

Tell us a bit about 5 Soldiers.

It's a powerful, visceral and hugely physical dance production that draws back the veil on Army life. We follow the fortunes of four young men and one woman as they are made ready to go into a combat zone, and what happens when they do. This aspect is particularly important, as the role of women in the Army is growing and expanding all the time. As a medium that appeals directly to the emotions, dance is ideal to help audiences get a sense of the stresses and the challenges this involves.

Where has the show been so far?

It has been performed all round the UK including Tramway in Glasgow and theatres across England including the Birmingham Rep. It's also been to many smaller venues, including Army barracks, as part of our work to introduce dance to new and varied audiences. The audience response has been great, which is very rewarding as we get quite a few serving and former soldiers coming along. The critical response has also been excellent with five star reviews from the likes of The Observer and The Scotsman. After Edinburgh we are off to London and then on a tour round England that has been supported by the Army.

Why bring it to Edinburgh?

The world comes to the Fringe and it's an unrivalled opportunity to get 5 SOLDIERS seen but an incredibly diverse audience. Rosie Kay, the choreographer who created the performance, was also raised in Edinburgh and began her training at Dance Base - so there's a real sense of homecoming. All in all, being part of the Fringe is a very special opportunity for the company and the cast.

Why is it important for people to see it?

For most of us it's difficult to appreciate what we ask of our young soldiers when we train them up and send them to war. The discipline, the camaraderie, the stress, the danger and the consequences are not something we see in everyday life. It's society's Army, we should understand what that means. All the dancers have spent time on combat exercises with the Army, so have genuine insights into their roles and audience feedback, including from many ex-servicemen and women, has been excellent. So we hope that audiences will find it a compelling experience.

Where is 5 Soldiers being performed at the festival and how does this impact on the piece?

We are here as a centrepiece of Army @ The Fringe - an initiative in which the Army is having its first ever Fringe venue (in association with Summerhall). The idea is to engage with parts of the community which often don't come in contact with the Army and to start conversations about its place in society. Army @ The Fringe is at Hepburn House, an Army Reserve Centre in the New Town. It will be staffed by serving personnel and visitors can even enjoy a drink in the Mess. The venue, the staffing and the fact that there will be panel discussions afterwards involving members of the military all add to the experience and really act to reinforce its authenticity.

Timings and ticket information for 5 Soldiers are available on the edfringe website.

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