Phoenix Dance Theatre has embarked on its spring tour with their adaptation of James Baldwin’s seminal novel, Giovanni’s Room.
On its own, the novel is considered a landmark in gay literature and is recognised as an outstanding piece of 20th century literature. In this adaptation, Baldwin’s work is elevated to another level; the combination of literary art and dance artistry is something I hope everyone will be lucky to experience.
Set in 1950’s Paris, this is a story of self-discovery which follows a young American and his passionate affair with the bartender, Giovanni. David, the protagonist, is engaged to Hella but continues his relationship with Giovanni and the events that follow are the consequence of his own identity struggles.
I would dare to say that the plot is insignificant here. It provides a thrilling narrative, though the focus of the performance is a personal journey. The idea of looking inwards, dealing with guilt and identity are all human experiences relatable to anyone. This performance represents a bigger picture than just David’s singular experience.
Marcus Jarrell Willis has brought together an incredible team of creatives who work together seamlessly. Jacob Hughes’ set design is simplistic yet powerful, accompanying the story and not overpowering the movement on stage. Giovanni’s room, the box structure, is continuously present on stage, which allows a creative interpretation of space in Willis’ movement.
Luke Haywood’s lighting was impactful and deliberate, guiding the audience to different moments and illuminating the narrative. Something that I particularly enjoyed was the use of lighting to create shadows which projected onto the sides of the stage. The staging could be considered restrictive from certain seats in the theatre. However, this technique made the shapes created by the dancers visible from all angles.
Costumes designed by Melissa Parry were reminiscent of the 1950’s setting, yet they were not overly
stylised so that they were also timeless, something which I think was a thoughtful and conscious choice and aligned with Willis’ visions for this performance.
Teige Bisnought was mesmerizing as David, not only for his technicality and movement quality but also for his ability to convey such complexity in the emotional narrative. He carried the audience and sustained an honest expression – an excellent choice as our protagonist for the evening.
Dylan Springer was equally as impressive as Giovanni, displaying both strength and vulnerability. Their duet at the end of Act 1 was beautifully choreographed, performed with an endearing sincerity. Both of their individual styles worked powerfully together in communicating their characters’ complicated relationship and the use of lifts and contact work helped to physicalise this.
The entire company played an invaluable role in the communication of such a complex story, and specific recognition of Dorna Ashory in her role as Hella. Her solo in act two, which was performed in silence, was an expert example of the power of dance as a means to tell a story. Her movement was a reflection of the contents of the letter written to David and embodied her youthful buoyance. This was one of my favourite moments in the show.
Composer Marc Strobel has worked wonders with the score for this show. It seemed that the musical accompaniment informed the dancers’ repertoire and vice versa. Throughout the entire performance, each creative aspect worked seamlessly as a unit with others; nothing appeared to be an afterthought.
Phoenix Dance Theatre has proved once again the limitless boundaries of dance performance and will surely inspire audiences with this innovative adaptation.
6 March Cast List
David Teige Bisnought
Giovanni / Ensemble Dylan Springer
Hella / Ensemble Dorna Ashory
Jacques / Sailor /Ensemble Aaron Chaplin
Guillaume/ Ensemble Tony Polo
David’s Father /Ensemble Phikolwethu Luke
Aunt Ellen / Ensemble Yasmina Patel
Sue / Ensemble Hannah McGlashon
Ensemble Tishainy Constancia
Ensemble Graciela Mariqueo-Smith
Ensemble Jess Yeo
Ensemble Maddie Irwin
Artistic Credits
Marcus Jarrell Willis Choreography
Marc Strobel Music Composition
Jacob Hughes Stage Design
Luke Haywood Lighting Design
Melissa Parry Costume Design
Tonderai Munyebvu Dramaturguy
Inside Giovanni’s Room is at Leeds Playhouse until 8 March.
Photographs provided by Phoenix Dance Theatre.
