∞ {Infinite}
 
            © Tom Visser
My Theatre Confidences 🤫
∞ {Infinite} by HUMANHOOD
Sadler’s Wells East till 15 February
Experiencing INFINITE by Humanhood was like embarking on a profound journey—a mesmerizing blend of movement and meditation that transcended the typical dance performance. The company's unique fusion of contemporary dance, martial arts, and shamanic practices created an atmosphere that felt both instinctual and otherworldly. The dancers didn't merely perform; they seemed to channel a universal energy, moving with a fluidity and precision that was both captivating and deeply moving.
The production delved into expansive themes of space, time, and the dissolution of the self, inviting the audience to explore the concept of infinity within and around us. The choreography was complemented by atmospheric lighting and a resonant soundscape, enhancing the immersive experience. What stood out to me was the accessibility of the performance; Humanhood's approach stripped away any sense of elitism often associated with contemporary dance, welcoming everyone into this shared spiritual journey. There was no pressure to intellectually dissect the performance—only an invitation to feel and experience it.
Credit: Tom Visser
On a personal level, INFINITE resonated deeply with the current societal pressures we face. In an age where we're constantly bombarded with information and driven by a relentless pursuit of success, the performance served as a much-needed antidote. It encouraged a release from the incessant mental noise, offering a space to reconnect with deeper, more essential rhythms that align with nature and the cosmos. For a brief moment, the overwhelming demands of modern life faded, replaced by a sense of “stillness” and unity. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of pausing, reflecting, and embracing the infinite possibilities within ourselves.
 
            Credit: Tom Visser
A quick note on my reflections on the shows I see:
Let’s be clear: you won’t find the typical “review” on my page. I don’t buy into the so-called objectivity of mainstream theatre criticism; it’s outdated and protects toxic power structures while sidelining marginalised voices. I’m not objective, and I’m proud of it. I’ve got my own lenses. My reflections are personal, shaped by my lived experiences and values. I share what moved me, what challenged me, and what’s worth talking about; not ticking boxes or handing out stars.
And no, I’m not going to describe the whole plot or list every onstage moment; I find that mind-numbingly boring, both to write and to read.
Giuliano x
 
            My Way of Looking at Theatre
You know, the more I think about it, the clearer it becomes that traditional theatre criticism has often been a tool for maintaining existing power structures.
It’s time to drop the privileged fancy talk around theatre and break free from star ratings.
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I love and recommend
The Place, 31 Oct - 1 Nov
Blending storytelling, dynamic choreography and cutting-edge technology, this haunting work follows a ghostly woman in limbo, desperately searching to reclaim her body and lost sense of self across memory and time
The Place, 28 October
Part biographical, part fiction, this work draws on the choreographer’s experience of visual impairment and parenting to unmask a multi-generational story about resilience, love, and the courage of letting go.
Omnibus Theatre, 29 Oct - 11 Nov
Tangle’s dynamic adaptation of Julius Caesar merges African-inspired storytelling with Shakespeare’s political thriller. Featuring live music by Zimbabwean composer and musician John Pfumojena, this fast-paced production delves into power struggles, betrayal, and the consequences of ambition, offering a contemporary, thrilling exploration of political upheaval and its timeless relevance.
The Place, 24 & 25 October
A reimagined fairytale where difference is the hero. Blending dance, puppetry, and bold visual storytelling, this is family theatre that refuses to simplify. It invites adults and children alike to share space, celebrate identity, and imagine a world shaped by empathy, courage, and freedom.
The Place, 21 & 22 October
This dance work revisits the Mudan Incident—the 1874 invasion of southern Taiwan, when Japanese forces attacked Paiwan villages, killing hundreds.
Through dance, he turns history into breath: footsteps echo ancestors, the body carries what was silenced. Rather than retell the past, he reclaims it. Grief and pride moving as one.
Southbank Centre, 15 & 16 October
A fierce feminist act of listening and resistance. Six dancers move through a century of women’s voices once dismissed as hysterical or unruly, turning noise into power. It’s movement as protest, sound as liberation — a reclamation of what patriarchy tried to silence.
Greenwich Theatre till 25 October
The play unfolds in a psychiatric room where a patient’s claim that oranges are blue ignites a battle between two doctors. What begins as clinical debate unravels into a fierce study of power, race, and control. It’s a sharp, unsettling reminder of how authority defines what’s sane, what’s normal, and what’s simply inconvenient to those in charge.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, till 2 Nov
I recently visited the rehearsals of Darkfield, the award-winning immersive theatre company transforming total darkness into a stage for the senses. Their new show, now open in Stratford, blurs the lines between theatre, sound art, and virtual reality — inviting audiences into a 3D sonic world where every vibration, breath, and whisper is part of the story.
Talawa Theatre, 8 - 18 October
Syncopated is a new play that moves between Liverpool today and 1919, weaving together the personal and the historical. It begins with two young strangers, Him and Her, who cross paths on a bench by the docks. As the pair imagine the past together, love, memory, and grief intertwine.
Globe Theatre, till 25 October
At Shakespeare’s Globe, Robin Belfield’s Twelfth Night, Or What You Will brings Shakespeare’s comedy of disguise, desire and mistaken identity to life in a world of revelry and colour. Viola, shipwrecked and disguised as Cesario, enters a tangle of love where Olivia mourns, Orsino pines, and Malvolio dreams of greatness.
Barbican Theatre, 25 - 27 September
A sweeping, deeply human story about the hidden hands behind beauty. From Paris couture houses to lace-makers in Alençon and embroiderers in Mumbai, the play reveals the unseen labor and sacrifice behind the making of a royal wedding dress.
Southwark Playhouse, till 27 September
An explosive night of noughties bangers, cheap gin, and chaos in austerity-hit Luton. Two best friends, Voice and Lewis, chase the highs of youth while confronting violence, neglect, and fleeting joy. Told with biting wit and lyrical fire, this raw, real-time play collides friendship, class, and identity in unforgettable ways.
Arcola Theatre, till 11 October
In East London, a young woman’s first kiss is shattered by violence, while a former prodigy is haunted by the promise of a life that slipped away.
ArtsDepot, 27 September
On a giant moving treadmill, acrobatics, street dance, and roller skating collide in a thrilling spectacle. This show unpacks comedy, tragedy, and the UK’s colonial past—asking what happens when history remains unresolved.
Southbank Centre, 17 - 18 September
The first chapter of a daring trilogy by Brazilian theatre-maker Carolina Bianchi: a visceral performance where lecture and ritual collide, confronting rape, femicide, and the haunting links between art, violence, and resistance.
Sadler’s Wells East, 17 - 20 September
Blending dance, theatre, music, and memory, this boundary-bending ritual traces Ireland from the 1970s to today—where history and fantasy entwine in a playful, haunting meditation on destiny and becoming.
Riverside Studios, 16 - 28 September
Four South Asian women flip the script on cliché roles, mixing satire, skits, and spoken word into a joyful, defiant celebration of identity, sisterhood, survival, and the power of unheard voices.
Lyric Hammersmith, till 11 October
A radical retelling where two women reclaim Dracula’s story—using memory, letters, and journals to expose how fear and desire intertwine, and how women’s voices resist being silenced by horror’s old myths.
King’s Head Theatre, till 4 October
A hallucinatory tale of two reclusive siblings, where strange games blur fear and desire—revealing a dream-like world where fear becomes currency, violence entertains, and disgust binds society together.
National Theatre, till 1 November
A fierce new take on Euripides’ Bacchae unleashes ritual, rap, and ecstatic movement to retell the clash between gods and mortals. At its core lies the dangerous line between faith and madness, devotion and frenzy, as divine vengeance tears through human power.
 
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
     
  
  
    
    
    