10 SOLDIERS
10 SOLDIERS Created 2019
Commissioned by Birmingham Hippodrome, toured Edinburgh Festival Theatre and Norwich Theatre Royal
★★★★★ The Herald, Review by Mary Brennan
“An ear-splitting bang cuts through the darkness, a dazzling light suddenly flares - it’s an explosive opening to 10 Soldiers, the blast a reminder of what new recruits actually sign up for. The boot camp exercises and the in synch square-bashing that Rosie Kay replicates so meticulously in her choreography aren’t ‘war games’ ... they’re the tough preparation for active service on some callous battlefield. What we’re watching is the basic grit of army life, researched first hand by Kay for her earlier piece 5 Soldiers and now underpinning this astutely expanded version with its larger cast.
Kay now delves deeper into barrack-room tensions and rituals, examining equality and diversity in the process. Macho camraderie again cuts loose in camp prancing to Katy Perry’s Firework, until combative horseplay reveals simmering rivalries. Sexism and sexual urges overlap and unleash predatory aggression that then melts away into an escapist yearning for tenderness left behind in civvy street. Kay’s remarkable dancers account for every shift of mood and (often fiercely athletic) movement style with more than mettlesome prowess
- they bring honesty and thoughtfulness to their on- stage characters. The truth of that sub-title, The Body is the Frontline, hits us when heavy shell fire causes life-changing injuries to a member of the corps - his determination to soldier on is one of the most haunting, harrowing images you’re ever likely to see on a stage...”
★★★★, The Guardian, Review of online premiere
“10 Soldiers, is another potent work. There’s much pleasure in watching unison manoeuvres click into place, knees high and arms swung with swagger. The life of a soldier is already full of choreography, and Kay works with that to make dance that feels rooted in reality.
There’s nothing but respect in Kay’s depiction but there’s definitely a richness in her reading.
All of this is handled with a sense of authenticity, character, humour and thoughtfulness. Some dance works transfer better to screen than others, and it’s not always easy to say why. This could easily be a five-star show in the flesh.
“This performance is accessible even for audiences unfamiliar with contemporary dance, and I would argue would even be accessible to youth audiences as an educational tool. It is never boring, never one-sided, and both entertaining and deeply thought-provoking.” ★★★★★ young-perspecitive.net
“an adrenaline-fuelled very brave piece of dance drama.... try and catch it somewhere – it’s well worth travelling for.” Bromsgrove Standard
“Kay’s achievement in producing a work that takes us on such a challenging and thought-provoking journey.” ★★★★ Dancetabs
“a visually compelling and thought-provoking piece.” ★★★★★behindthearras.com