It’s been a few years since we last, here in TheLab™, featured a work by Charlotte Vincent and the company that bears her name. As the company moves ever closer to its 20th year of making ‘Motherland’ takes to the stage with a multi-generational cast.
An all out choreographic assault of none stop movement this piece is not. What we have is a pure piece of dance theatre with a mix of dance, acting, singing and live music mixed with some, at times, disturbing visual imagery.
The company say this much;
“Inching its way through airbrushed beauty, boob jobs and Botox, victim-blaming, slut-shaming, the might of motherhood and the challenge of childlessness, Motherland is a funny and moving show about having it all.
In Motherland, Vincent Dance Theatre’s brilliant, multi-talented ensemble of men, women and children take a look at the gender they were born into and the price they are paying for it.
Spurred on by Simone de Beauvoir, Caitlin Moran and the Spice Girls, Vincent goes into battle with the big boys, arguing against a narrow, over-sexualized definition of femininity to ask what it is that we really, really want.”
Our feature brings you, of course, footage from the show as well as interviews with cast members Leah Yeger and Robert Clark and the shows creator, Charlotte Vincent.
‘Motherland’ is performed by Leah Yeger, Robert Clark, Janusz Orlik, Scott Smith, Benita Oakley, Aurora Lubos, Patrycja Kujowska, Grieg Cooke, Alexadru Catona and Andrea Catania with music by pretty much most of the cast.
The show continues touring throughout the Autumn and will return to the road next year at some point, check the tour website for details.
Filmed on October 5th, 2012 at the Corn Exchange in Newbury.