Inspired by Russian the folktale Hedgehog in the Fog this new piece of physical theatre tells the story of a small community who meets once every millennium, where they discover books they have never seen before and act out the tales contained within.
The structure of multiple smaller plays within one show works well and is highly engaging. Each new tale has a contrasting pace and emotion, using different choreographic styles from one scene to the next, and making the piece particularly interesting to watch. The choreography itself is quite marvelous, capturing a vast array of human emotions and sending chills down my spine on more than one occasion. The demanding movement requires a talented cast, and this cast is outstanding. They displayed unwaveringly high levels of energy, focus and intensity moving fluidly from one story to the next, never dropping focus or showing signs of fatigue.
Creating distinct atmospheres for each story was well achieved through directional choices, with the use of soundscaping, thoughtfully-designed lighting and well-chosen music. The culmination of all these efforts contributed to a hugely effective overall production.
One minor criticism would be that the final section of the piece lingers in a similar pace. Structural rhythm changes are used so effectively at the beginning, the piece would do well to maintain this throughout. But, overall this is a great piece of theatre with all aspects coming together to create a beautiful, emotive and atmospheric piece that will leave you wanting more.