∞ {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 I don’t buy into the so-called objectivity of mainstream theatre criticism; it’s outdated and protects toxic power structures while sidelining marginalised voices.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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If you think panto isn’t for you, this one might surprise you. This reimagining places the classic story inside Britain’s Windrush history, following Dick as he arrives from Jamaica, cat in tow, into a country shaped by both invitation and exclusion.
Intermission Youth Theatre, till 20 December
Forced from their homeland of “Shakespeare”, Anthony and Dominique arrive in the UK seeking asylum, unaware their identical twins, presumed dead, are already here. Both sets share the same names: one pair speaks only Shakespearean, the other only London street. Cue mistaken identities, culture clash and total mayhem.
Hackney Empire, 3 - 31 December
Cinderella dreams of a life full of love and adventure, and free from the clutches of her Ugly Sisters and Wicked Stepmother. When an invitation to the party of the year arrives, it might be just the ticket she needs. Throw in some glass slippers, a fairy godmother, and a little sparkle of magic and you’ve got yourself a pantomime that’s guaranteed to be the perfect fit!
Southbank Centre, 9 - 31 December
Sh!t Theatre tear open the polished Evita myth and drag Isabel Perón back into the frame — not to rescue her reputation, but to look straight at how history edits, forgets, and rewrites women in power. The show slips between electro-pop chaos, strange puppetry, and raw self-reflection, blurring the political and the personal until they’re the same wound.
Young Vic, 2 Dec - 31 Jan
A tiger is shot in the chaos of the Iraq War and comes back as a ghost, stalking two US Marines and an Iraqi translator through the ruins of Baghdad. What begins at the city zoo spirals into a darkly funny, unsettling journey through looted palaces, gold-plated guns and the voices of the dead, asking who gets to profit, who gets to live with the guilt and where God is in any of this.
Tara Theatre, 17 - 29 Nov
In the wake of the UK’s ‘hostile environment’ policy, this play is a deft political satire that shifts between comedy and nightmare as a queer brown man is radicalised by a diva in blue, the face of a right-wing British government: Theresa May.
New Diorama Theatre, till 13 December
A darkly funny musical set on the Greenwich riverbank, where one high-rise flat holds two eras. As tides rise and power fails, a biomedical crisis and future survivalist rituals collide, scored by restless electro-folk and stubborn human hope.
Brixton House, until 29 Nov
Set against the culturally rich and complex backdrop of London, the plat follows four friends, Joseph, Monday, Nathaniel and Omari, as they navigate love, sexuality, faith and masculinity within a society that often silences and misrepresents them.
Theatre503, 10 - 29 Nov
A chilling psychological folktale that drags us kicking and screaming into the horrors of an obsessive mind. What happens when you can’t tell yourself the truth? What happens when the story threatens to swallow you whole?
Southbank Centre, 5 - 8 November
A new performance series platforms the rad, the queer and the uncategorisable. Explore a host of performances from independent artists working at the boundaries of dance, performance, live art and cabaret, and late night shows in the KUNSTY cabaret lounge.
Park Theatre, until 29 Nov
This Papatango New Writing Prize winner carves into the dark underbelly of America’s anti-immigration policies and the brutal sacrifices that drive the pursuit of prosperity.
Sadler’s Wells East, 6 - 8 Nov
An immersive work fusing reggae dub culture and contemporary dance. Akeim Toussaint Buck and The Magnificence drive Nyabinghi rhythms and dub/jazz sounds as dancers vibrate, skank and gather. Challenging borders, flags and occupied lands, the piece seeks joy in darkness, inviting us to lively up until freedom rings.
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 - 15 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.