'Block'- Motionhouse

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Based in Birmingham, Motionhouse are a company renowned for their vibrant and inspiring dance-circus productions, which have been performed since the company’s foundation in 1988. They perform internationally with their pieces made for both theatres, and the outdoors. I recently had the pleasure of watching their performance of ‘Block’ at Liverpool’s Riverside Festival.

‘Block’ has been made in collaboration with NoFit State circus, created and directed by Kevin Finnan, and according to the company, explores ‘life in the city; its contradictions and challenges’.

This outdoor production acts like a giant game of Jenga, as performers build and re-build numerous structures and patterns from 20 enormous blocks, leaping fearlessly to and from each platform that is created, no matter how high. Heart stopping doesn’t even describe half the feeling it creates.

Each Performer and block undergo constant collaboration, both moving in equal parts to create the beautifully intricate flow of the piece – a label of ‘dancer’ seems trivial as a way of describing this incredible cast, who are more like Olympians. Their split second timing and tremendous acrobatic skill is breath taking. In this show where the women lift the men as equally as they are lifted themselves, it’s no wonder why ‘Block’ is so devastatingly popular and in its 4th year of performance.

The choreography certainly lives up to and goes far beyond the renowned style and substance of the Motionhouse we have come to know and love, pushing boundaries and creating awe inspiring moments that left me wanting to film every section to try and replicate it at home!

While the work is undeniably fantastic, there were times where the narrative became a little unclear, and I gathered suggestions of abusive relationships, rebuilding a fallen city, and even aliens discovering earth. However, this minor hiccup took a back seat for me, as the thrill of the performance was enough to carry it regardless of a story.
Overall, a terrifically intricate piece of work that has to be seen in order to understand its sheer brilliance. The cast were utterly bonkers and seem to lack any kind of fear, and the talent among them was exhilarating to witness live. Not a show to be missed.

Motionhouse are currently touring worldwide with ‘Block’ until September.

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