A woman sits centre stage, wrapped in thick wools that appear to be knitted and crocheted from a myriad of red yarn. She knits with two needles in a frantic, almost robotic way as a young woman emerges from beneath her skirts. Is she being born or is she being knitted into existence? Director Yuqiu Wang is leaving a lot open to interpretation in this delicate, fascinating, but somewhat flawed dance performance.
has some exquisite moments of movement
Adapted from her own experiences with her mother, Wang has created the woollen cloak at the centre of this piece along with the raggedly beautiful garment worn by choreographer and performer Jiarong Yu. It creates a striking visual at the centre of the dance and, when discarded later in the show, it exerts a constant presence by being such a fascinating creation.
Billed as exploring the mother-daughter dynamic, there are moments where this is clearly defined; Yu and the wool-swaddled mother alternately show affection and anger towards each other. They struggle and pull at each other’s woolen garb before cuddling together in warm comfort. However, there are other moments when the performance feels lacking in direction and the choreography fades away. These beats seem almost unrehearsed and reactive, yet the innate beauty of the costuming helps to keep things visually interesting. Yu has some exquisite moments of movement, especially when writhing on the floor, playing the mischievous daughter, and strutting around with the confidence of a young woman discovering her own sensuality but the latter half of the show could be tighter. Some audience interaction is intriguing but feels like it could have benefited from being explored more deeply.
Weaving Me, Weaving Mum has a lot to say about the complex relationships between a mother and daughter and it is certainly well worth experiencing. I’m excited to see what Neverland Space Theatre deliver next.
