A powerful and original double-bill from Manchester’s Company Chameleon, Obscura dances between light and darkness, exploring the shadows of self and society. Chameleon’s talent for creating socially relevant contemporary dance that makes you think and feel shines in this emotive performance, which transforms two of their outdoor productions for the stage. A powerful and nuanced trio, delicate and explosive in equal measure, Umbra, choreographed by Anthony Missen, spotlights exclusion and the search for understanding and to be understood. Three dancers move through a landscape of shifting relationships, exploring what we choose to hide and reveal depending on who we are with. Fast-paced and dynamic, Umbra is an invitation to pause and understand ourselves better. In Refuse, choreographed by Kevin Edward Turner, five performers embark on a treacherous journey seeking refuge. Inspired by Géricault’s painting of The Raft of the Medusa, this powerful work lays bare the brutal reality faced by those forced to flee their homelands in search of a better life. With striking choreography, inventive use of set, and raw physicality, Refuse transforms the stage into a shifting terrain of hope, desperation, and resilience, spotlighting the plight of asylum seekers and displaced people today. Performed together in Obscura, the performances shine a light on what it means to be seen, to be othered, and to seek belonging, inviting you to explore stories that often remain in the shadows.

Description supplied by the event organiser.