Superhuman
SUMMERHALL
BOUT Chang Dance Theatre Summerhall – Old Lab, Fri 2–Sun 25 Aug (not 5, 12, 19), 10.20am, £12 (£9). Previews Wed 31 Jul & Thu 1 Aug, £8. Originally inspired by the ritual and physical rhythms of the boxing ring, this simply staged, unpretentiously eloquent new work is the physically deft and thoughtful expression of three contemporary young Asian men who communicate best through their bodies. By exploring their strong, if sometimes strained, personal connections, the Changs once again endear themselves indelibly to us.
SPARKLE Annie Cusick Wood, Honolulu Theatre Production supported by Catherine Wheels Summerhall – Tech Cube 0, Fri 2–Sun 25 Aug (not 12, 19), 10.20am, £10 (£6). Previews Wed 31 Jul & Thu 1 Aug, £5. Sparkle, who loves to dress in tutus, tiaras and sparkly dresses, fi nds on his fi rst day of school that not everyone wants to let him shine. In this playful and poignant show, Sparkle discovers the magnifi cence of standing up for himself and being unique – even in his own sparkly slippers. FIRST PIANO ON THE MOON Will Pickvance Summerhall – Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Fri 2–Sun 18 Aug (not 12), 11.30am, £12 (£10).
Previews Wed 31 Jul & Thu 1 Aug , £8. Adapting Mozart, Chopin and Scott Joplin for outer space requires a specially equipped pianist. Will has been doing some groundwork. As schoolmates study for exams, he’s busy making preparations for his lunar recital. Stories come alive from the piano stool as Will builds variations on themes and experiments with ways to play.
ZOO
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME Next Door Dance ZOO Playground, Mon 5–Mon 26 Aug (not 14), 2pm, £10 (£9). Previews Fri 2–Sun 4 Aug, £7. A laugh-out-loud look at our undying obsession with football, celebrating everything from weird match day rituals to ridiculous armchair punditry. Four women deliver a knockout performance in this ballsy show which is brimming with nostalgia and set to a buzzing soundtrack. Even if football isn’t your thing, this electric, feel-good show will persuade you of its charms. UN POYO ROJO Un Poyo Rojo in association with Aurora Nova ZOO Southside, Wed 21–Mon 26 Aug, 5.10pm, £13 (£11). The athletic bodies of Luciano Rosso and Alfonso Barón move fl uently from wrestling
to dance, acrobatics to physical comedy in an irresistible distortion of the expectations of manhood. A funny, raw, playful hour interspersed with competitiveness and camaraderie as well as seduction and sabotage, showcasing the best of Argentinian contemporary dance.
IT WILL COME LATER iCoDaCo ZOO Southside, Tue 13–Sun 25 Aug (not 14, 20), 1pm, £14 (£12). Previews Sun 11 & Mon 12 Aug, £12. A stripped back, thrilling and edgy contemporary dance work. Performed and watched around a revolving set that’s fl ooded in light like the shifting light of day, six bodies push against each other in a constant fl ow of transformation. Never- ending effort is put into minute moments as the artists seek a greater good, a common goal, and maybe together they will get somewhere. SUPER HUMAN Next Zone ZOO Southside, Fri 2–Sat 17 Aug (not 5, 12), 5.30pm, £14 (£12). In a unique and mind-awakening performance, the super physical team redefi ne the human being in new optimised versions. The distinctive choreographic language of Next Zone and choreographer Lene Boel builds on explorations of mental states, translated into extreme physical movements in a fusion of urban dance, new composed music and scenography lights.
31 Aug–7 Aug 2019 THE LIST FESTIVAL 63