Political Mother was declared an ‘audio visual marvel’ by critics after its premiere in 2010. Now it returns, specially revamped for over 30 performers.
In 2009 Shechter reworked his acclaimed programme Uprising/In your rooms into a musical feast of percussion and strings, creating an unforgettable dance ‘gig’. Now, Political Mother gets the same treatment. Bringing the atmosphere of a rock concert, and brimming with the gritty and emotional complexity of Shechter's extraordinary dance work, Political Mother: The Choreographer's Cut gives audiences an experience like no other. It will be performed with a live band of over 20 musicians alongside a cast of 16 dancers.
Following the world wide acclaim of Uprising/In your rooms Shechter and his young and talented dance company have quickly established themselves as a leading force in the UK dance scene. Shechter moved to the UK in 2002 and following a career as a dancer he made his choreographic debut two years later with Fragments. A former drummer in a rock band, Shechter creates the musical scores for each of his dance creations and his atmospheric, groovy music alongside his company’s unique physicality has earned his work an unrivalled reputation around the world.
The overwhelming response to Shechter's work in recent years, both critically and from his audience, has singled him out as one of the most exciting artists to emerge in recent years.
Political Mother: The Choreographer's Cut will premiere at Montpellier Danse Festival on 7 July 2011.
To find out about other Hofesh Shechter Company activities and performances visit our main website
www.hofesh.co.uk
Performed by Hofesh Shechter Company
Dancers Maëva Berthelot, Winifred Burnet-Smith, Chien-Ming Chang, Sam Coren, Frédéric Despierre, Laura de Vos, Karima el Amrani, Christopher Evans, James Finnemore, Bruno Karim Guillore, Philip Hulford, Jason Jacobs, Yeji Kim, Erion Kruja, Sita Ostheimer, Hannah Shepherd
The Band Christopher Allan (Cello), Rebekah Allan (Viola), Laura Anstee (Cello), Joseph Ashwin (Guitar), Chopper (Drums), John Crockatt (Viola), Jub Davis (Double Bass), Yaron Engler (Drums, Bendir), Dominic Goundar (Drums), Alison Gillies (Cello), Joel Harries (Guitar), Tim Harries (Bass Guitar), Edward Hoare (Drums), Norman Jankowski (Drums, Pandeiro), James Keane (Drums), Moshik Kop (Drums), Vincenzo Lamagna (Guitar), Bethan Lewis (Viola), Andrew Maddick (Guitar, Viola), Richard Phillips (Cello), Desmond Neysmith (Cello), Jordi Riera (Drums), Natasha Zielazinski (Cello)
Choreography and Music Hofesh Shechter
Musical Collaborators
Strings transcribed by Christopher Allan and arranged by Christopher Allan with Hofesh Shechter
Percussion transcribed by Yaron Engler and arranged by Yaron Engler with Hofesh Shechter
Original Political Mother score also in collaboration with Nell Catchpole
The score includes improvisations by the band, notably a solo by Laura Anstee
The score was developed in rehearsal with Christopher Allan, Rebekah Allan, Laura Anstee, Joe Ashwin, Yaron Engler, Joel Harries, Ed Hoare and Andrew Maddick
Lighting Design Lee Curran
Costume Design Merle Hensel
Text for sign stolen kindly from FOS
Berlin is getting closer…
18.11.2011
The dancers and musicians of Hofesh Shechter Company never stop! We will be in Germany to begin 2012 with Political Mother – The Choreographer’s Cut on 27th and 28th January at the Berliner Festspiele.
It’s time to book your tickets now!
Next stop...Berlin 2012
22.07.2011
Our run at Sadler's Wells is sadly over but if you missed it we will present the show again in January 2012 at spielzeit'europa in Berlin. You can also check out the wonderful reviews of the show in the Reviews section on this site.
London here we come
10.07.2011
After a very successful premiere in Montpellier, Political Mother: The Choreographer's Cut comes to Sadler's Wells this week so get your tickets now: www.sadlerswells.com.
Also check out the brilliant interview with Hofesh Shechter in Time Out this week: http://bit.ly/o1dQUC
Premiere this week
04.07.2011
This Thursday, 7 July, sees the premiere of Political Mother: The Choreographer's Cut at Montpellier Danse Festival before the Company return to London for their run at Sadler's Wells 12-16 July. After a successful production week the work is both looking and sounding great - don't miss out and book your tickets now!
Hofesh is on Twitter!
28.06.2011
Follow Hofesh on Twitter in the run up to our shows at Sadler's Wells - @hofeshshechter
£10 Standing Tickets still available
27.06.2011
See the performers up close with £10 standing tickets, still available to buy for our Sadler's Wells performances 12-16 July. Book now at www.sadlerswells.com
Rehearsals have commenced...
24.06.2011
Both dancer and musician rehearsals are well under way for Political Mother: The Choreographer's Cut and we had our first full musican rehearsal today with all 24 musicians in one room. It's sounding great to book your tickets now at www.sadlerswells.com and to see a clip from today's rehearsal check out our youtube channel: www.youtube.com/hofeshshechterco
Premiere
12.05.2011
The World Premiere of Political Mother: The Choreographer's Cut, takes place on 7 July 2011 at Montpellier Danse Festival. Following this the Company will return to Sadler's Wells for a week-long run of the show 12-16 July 2011. This exclusive show will be performed in just 3 venues so don't miss out and book your tickets now! See the tour dates for details.
Click images to enlarge
Please turn off audio before viewing video
political mother:
the choreographer's cut
Sky Arts - Behind The Scenes at Brighton Dome with Hofesh Shechter
Take a look at preparations for the World Premiere of Political Mother back in 2010. Hofesh talks about preparing for Political Mother plus exclusive clips of rehearsals and hear from the Directors of Brighton Festival and Sadler's Wells.
For Hofesh Shechter Company
Board of Directors
Robin Woodhead (Chair), Andrew Hillier QC, Dick Matchett MBE, Karen Napier, Leigh Thomas
Founding Patrons Angela Bernstein CBE, Robin Pauley, Bruno Wang
Artistic Director Hofesh Shechter
Executive Director Helen Shute
General Manager Colette Hansford
Rehearsal Director Bruno Guillore
Technical Production Manager Ed Trotter
Participation Producer Melanie Precious
Project Coordinator Laura Broome
Music Manager Yaron Engler
Company Administrator Jessica Greer
Company Stage Manager Lawrie McLennan
Re-lighter Mike Midali
Drums supplier Bel Perc
Sound suppliers RNSS
Front of House Sound Engineer Tony Birch
Monitor Sound Engineer Emma Wood
Wardrobe Mistress Christina Cunningham
Company Intern Sophia Neofytou
Press & Marketing Intern Laurence Galley
Technical Intern Sam Wood
Company Contact
T: +44 (0) 20 3142 6823 | info@hofesh.co.uk | www.hofesh.co.uk
Press (UK) Martha Oakes PR email
T: +44 (0) 20 8854 5460 | M: +44 (0) 7798 626555
For International Press enquiries contact info@hofesh.co.uk
Supporters of Hofesh Shechter Company
Choreographer's Circle: Cathy Josefowitz
Founders' Circle: Anonymous, Stefan Allesch-Taylor, Janice & David Blackburn, Frédéric Cornu, Ayelet Elstein, Andrew Hillier, Richard Matchett, Karen Napier, Lekha Poddar, Pamela Salisbury, Michael Samuel, Robin Saunders, Hofesh Shechter, Simon Shute, Helen Webb, Robin Woodhead
Political Mother: The Choreographer’s Cut is commissioned by Montpellier Danse, Sadler’s Wells and spielzeit'europa / Berliner Festspiele. Subsidised rehearsal facilities provided by the Jerwood Space.
Political Mother was originally commissioned by Brighton Dome and Festival, Sadler’s Wells and Movimentos – Festwochen der Autostadt in Wolfsburg. The work was co-commissioned by Biennale de la Danse de Lyon, Théâtre de la Ville, Romaeuropa and Mercat de les Flors and produced in collaboration with Theatre Royal, Plymouth and with support from DanceXchange, Birmingham. The original score for Political Mother was created in collaboration with the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and barbicanbite09; with research supported by Jerwood Studio at Sadler’s Wells.
Hofesh Shechter Company is supported by Arts Council England and is Resident Company at Brighton Dome.
Collaboration with FOS supported by Outset.
Thanks to Stratford Circus for Subsidised rehearsal space
Supported by:
© Hofesh Shechter Company 2011
www.stemdesign.co.uk
the choreographer's cut
Montpellier Danse Festival, Montpellier, France
7 July 2011
www.montpellierdanse.com
Sadler's Wells, London, UK
12 - 16 July 2011, 7.30pm
Box office 0844 412 4300
www.sadlerswells.com
spielzeit/europa, Berliner Festspiele
berlin, germany
27 - 28 January 2012
www.berlinerfestspiele.de
Catch the original version of Political Mother on tour this year at the following venues:
Brigthon Dome, Brighton, UK
31 January 2012
www.brightondome.org
St James Theatre, Wellington, New-Zealand
8-11 March 2012
www.stjames.co.nz
National Theatre Concert Hall, Tapei, Taiwan
16-18 March 2012
www.ntch.edu.tw
Hellerau, Dresden, Germany
30-31 March 2012
www.hellerau.org
Theatre Madlenianium in Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia
12 April 2012
www.madlenianum.rs
Theatre Brycheniog, Brecon, UK
25 April 2012
www.brycheiniog.co.uk
The Lowry, Manchester, UK
27-28 April 2012
www.thelowry.com
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, UK
15-16 May 2012
www.shermancymru.co.uk
For all other Company tour dates visit www.hofesh.co.uk
Read some reviews from Political Mother: The Choreographer's Cut at Sadler's Wells below
"Shechter’s quest to fuse dance and rock-gig continues apace, and boy, it’s an electrifying ride." * * * * *
Mark Monahan, The Telegraph July 2011
"Few predicted Hofesh Shechter's rise from virtual unknown to the choreographic top table but last night he proved once again that his ascendancy has, if anything,been under appreciated..." * * * * *
Sarah Frater, The Evening Standard July 2011
"Billed as The Choreographer's Cut...more dancers, more musicians, more more. It's a spectacular sensory experience."
C & C Culture Factory July 2011
"Visually striking, aurally compulsive"
Vera Liber, The British Theatre Guide July 2011
Read some reviews from the original version of Political Mother below
"Part dance show, part heavy-rock gig, Hofesh Shechter's first ever full-length work is an audio-visual marvel. " * * * * *
Mark Monahan, The Telegraph May 2010
“Hofesh Shechter looks set to do for dance what the YBAs did for art, which is to propel it from an élite periphery into the mainstream, and connect it with a younger audience”
Jenny Gilbert, The Independent
“...delivered like a roar of defiance in the face of an omnipotent, malevolent force. It’s visceral, painful and very, very exciting but even in the dark void at its centre there is humanity and tenderness, never quite extinguished" * * * *
Debra Craine, The Times, May 2010
“Shechter has created a work of galvanising challenging power....In Political Mother, Shechter returns to his most characteristic theme, puzzling over the mechanisms of state and society, but his focus here is on the ways in which ideals of camaraderie, duty and service can be annexed and brutalised by a repressive power” * * * *
Judith Mackrell, The Guardian, May 2010
“A sinister line of drummers in military tunics, their faces invisible in the half-dark, the crash and volley of their percussion obliterating all thought and dissent…it's a fine, excoriating work, fuelled by real anger…”
Luke Jennings, The Observer on Sunday, May 2010
“A mix of explosive choreography and sensory musical overload... in adding the vibe of a rock concert to contemporary dance, Shechter is bringing the form to life for a new generation of spectators”
William McEvoy The Stage
This resource pack for teachers and students gives an insight in to the creation process of Political Mother, a breakdown of the work, ideas for discussion, creative movement tasks as well as contextual information about Political Mother and the Hofesh Shechter Company in general. A key resource for anyone interested in studying Hofesh's work.
