In Working the Devil, dance collective Dog Kennel Hill Project present two courses of stylistically contrasting dance that explore the world of work from differing perspectives.The first, The Devil and the Details, is an extremely witty and utterly absurd scene of socio-cultural comment, poking fun at the fundamental pretensions of the theatrical process, from contemporary choreography to the practice of the curtain call. The character-based piece is choreographed by Rachel Lopez de la Nieta, who also plays the deadpan, dictatorial director, reeling off obtuse and pretentious instructions to her subjects, which include the audience, with understated brilliance. As the instructions become more and more outrageous, developing a rhythmic quality which is enhanced by the live beatbox score, even the patience of her submissive subjects is pushed to the limit. This is a work in which the everyday and the surreal become one, performed with superb comedy timing.The second, Hinterview, is choreographed and performed by Henrietta Hale and is inspired by interviews she has personally conducted with workers. It is a more abstract and less dramatic work that plays with repetition and duration, creating a numbingly monotonous cycle that echoes aspects of working life. In this work Hale strives to move forward, yet she does not seem entirely complicit in her mission, as though motivated by external influences. The piece goes on to explore resilience, stamina and collapse, but becomes monotonous itself and lacks the detail or intrigue to fully engage the audience.
