Poignant production explores nature of war
The drama of warfare will be brought to the stage through dance.
Five Soldiers: The Body is the Frontline is a moving, dramatic and unique work which uses intense dance to explore how the human body remains essential to war, even in the 21st century. It comes to the Macrobert in Stirling on May 13 and 14 at 7.30pm.
The show is the creation of Rosie Kay - who was choreographer on the hit film Sunshine on Leith. Rosie’s research for the show involved meeting veterans and members of the armed services, she even joined in on training exercises.
“I was really shocked as I thought of myself as a bit of a pacifist,” said Rosie. “Being a dancer, you train quite a lot and your relatively strong, so I actually enjoyed taking part in the training.
“I was so lucky to be able to get a view of this quite secret world. Not many people know about the realities of everyday life.
“Unless you have been part of it, or have a family member who is, it is quite an unknown world.” The story is set in an unspecified war zone, and dancers portray fire fights and more poignant moments, with audience getting to know the characters intimately.
Despite being a dance show, Five Soldiers examines the issue in depth and is gritty at times.
“The show really pulls no punches and the dancers really go for it,” said Rosie.
“The characters can be really nice one minute but then the next they can be really aggressive. It takes you on a rollercoaster and it does not shy away from the issues.” The creator came up with the idea for the show while recuperating from a serious injury.
Rosie said: “I got a serious injury on stage. I was told I would not dance again and that it would take me about a year to walk properly again.
“I had a big operation and thankfully it didn’t turn out to be so bad. But when I was recovering, I was on heavy painkillers. I had a vision where my leg was blown off in the battlefield.
“It made me question what war is all about and I thought then it is about the body and the soul.”