This new full-length evening showcases the physicality and complexity of Hofesh Shechter’s choreography and his inimitable dancers, as they take the audience on a wild headfirst dive into the theatre of dreams.

The production opened in Paris at Théâtre de la Ville on 27 June 2024 and will have its UK premiere at Sadler’s Wells in October 2024, followed by an extensive international tour which includes the Netherlands, Italy, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria and Germany. In Spring 2025, Theatre of Dreams will return to the UK to perform as part of the prestigious Brighton Festival.

 

 

Through Hofesh’s ever-unfolding choreography, this new work delves deep into the world of fantasy and the subconscious, revealing fears, hopes, desires and a myriad of emotions that penetrates not only the dreaming mind but also our waking thoughts.

 

The dancers’ bodies bring to life on stage this interplay between poetry and reality, accompanied by live musicians and Shechter’s trademark cinematic composition. Hofesh reunites with creative collaborators from previous productions: Tom Visser for lighting design (Grand Finale, The Fix, Contemporary Dance 2:0, Wild Poetry and From England with Love.

About Hofesh
‘The mighty contemporary choreographer – a combination of dance-maker and rock-star, but with film-director sensibilities.’ - The Times

‘One of the British dance scene’s hottest properties, the creator of works that are full of raw, visceral energy, set to blasting percussive scores that he composes himself.’ - New York Times

‘There is no sitting in thoughtful contemplation at a Shechter gig. For pure, heart pounding excitement, there is simply no one to touch him.” - Daily Express

‘Getting goose bumps is the very least you can expect from a Hofesh Shechter show - Le Monde

 

About THEATRE OF DREAMS
‘The dance dazzles, defined by razor-sharp gestures, a contagious energy and the irresistible beauty which characterises Shechter’s work.’ Ariane Bavelier, Le Figaro

 

‘Theatre of Dreams goes from nightmarish visions to soaring lyricism. The adventure is magnificent, total and utterly engaging.’ Etoffedessonges.com

 

A symbiosis of hip-hop, folk dance and nightclub vibes… Poetic and joyful, this Theatre of Dreams surprises from start to finish, and above all is full of emotion and energy! Invigorating’ L’Essentiart

 

CHOREOGRAPHY AND MUSIC: HOFESH SHECHTER
Choreographer and composer Hofesh Shechter OBE is Artistic Director of UK-based Hofesh Shechter Company, Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells and Artist-in-Residence of Gauthier Dance(2021-2024). Shechter is recognised as one of the most exciting artists making work for both stage and film and renowned for composing atmospheric musical scores to complement the unique physicality of his movement style.

 

Hofesh Shechter’s repertoire for his company includes Uprising (2006), In your rooms (2007), The Art of Not Looking Back (2009), Political Mother (2010), Political Mother: The Choreographer’s Cut(2011), Sun (2013), barbarians (2015), Grand Finale (2017), SHOW (2018), POLITICAL MOTHER UNPLUGGED (2020) Double Murder (2021), Contemporary Dance 2.0 (2022) and From England with Love (2024).

 

Shechter has choreographed for theatre, television and opera, notably at the Metropolitan Opera (New York) for Nico Mulhy’s Two Boys, on Broadway for Bartlett Sher’s Fiddler on the Roof, at the Royal Court for Motortown and The Arsonists, at the National Theatre for Saint Joan and for the Channel 4 series Skins. He has co-directed with John Fulljames on Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice (Royal Opera House and La Scala) and LIGHT: Bach Dances (Royal Danish Opera and Philharmonie de Paris). His works have also been staged by leading UK and international dance companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (USA), Martha Graham Dance Company (USA), Candoco Dance Company (UK), Nederlands Dans Theater 1 (NL), Paris Opera Ballet (FR), Royal Ballet (UK) and Royal Ballet Flanders (BE).

 

Shechter has directed three award-winning short dance films: Clowns, broadcast by the BBC, POLITICAL MOTHER: The Final Cut and Return. In addition to these, he and his company collaborated with French filmmaker Cédric Klapisch on the feature En corps. The film was released in 2022 alongside a soundtrack composed by Shechter. He has received many prizes including the British Theatre Institute’s Award for Excellence in International Dance (2011), a Tony Nomination for his work on Fiddler on the Roof (2016), a nomination for an Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production for Grand Finale (2018), and
Best Dance Film at Festival de Cannes (2023). In 2018, he was also awarded an honorary OBE for Services to Dance.

 

HOFESH SHECHTER COMPANY
Hofesh Shechter Company is a boundary-breaking dance company that produces exceptional work created by Artistic Director Hofesh Shechter OBE, with, at its core, an extraordinary company of internationally diverse dancers. In all our work, we strive to move ourselves, and our audiences, beyond reason. Founded in 2008, the company’s repertoire includes Uprising (2006), In your rooms (2007), The Art of Not Looking Back (2009), Political Mother (2010), Political Mother: The Choreographer’s Cut (2011), Sun (2013), barbarians (2015), Grand Finale (2017), Double Murder (2021) and Theatre of Dreams (2024) with SHOW (2018), POLITICAL MOTHER UNPLUGGED (2020) and Contemporary Dance 2.0 (2022) performed by Shechter II, its young company. Hofesh Shechter Company has played in cities around the world including Paris, New York, Melbourne, Tokyo, Berlin, Tel Aviv, Rome, Seoul, Rio de Janeiro and many more.

 

The company collaborates on exceptional, world-leading, large-scale stage and film projects including a revival of Hofesh’s production of Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice at La Scala, Milan (2018), co-directed with John Fulljames; East Wall (2018) at Tower of London, in partnership with East London Dance, Historic Royal Palaces and LIFT; short films - Hofesh Shechter’s Clowns (2018), broadcast on the BBC, POLITICAL MOTHER: The Final Cut (2021) and Return (2023); feature film - En Corps (2022) and LIGHT: Bach dances (2021) winner of the FEDORA – VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Prize for Ballet 2020, produced in collaboration with Royal Danish Opera. Central to its belief that dance can bring about meaningful change, is Shechter Moves the company’s learning, engagement and development programme. Primarily aimed at young people age 14+, this programme shapes opportunities for everyone to experience the life-enhancing potential of their creativity.

 

Hofesh Shechter Company is supported with public funding through Arts Council England. Hofesh Shechter Company benefits from the support of BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of its projects.
Hofesh Shechter is an Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells, London and Artist-in-Residence of Gauthier Dance (2021-2024). Hofesh Shechter Company is Associate Company of the Brighton Dome.

 

CREATIVE TEAM
Choreography and Music: Hofesh Shechter
Lighting design: Tom Visser
Costume design: Osnat Kelner
Associate Artistic Director: Bruno Guillore
Music Collaborator: Yaron Engler
Set Collaborator: Niall Black
Dancers: Tristan Carter, Robinson Cassarino, Frédéric Despierre, Rachel Fallon, Cristel de Frankrijker, Mickaël Frappat, Natalia Gabrielczyk, Zakarius Harry, Alex Haskins, Yeji Kim, Keanah Faith Simin, Juliette Valerio, Chanel Vyent
Musicians: Yaron Engler, Sabio Janiak, Alex Paton
Additional Music:
“I Remember” Performed by Molly Drake
Licensed courtesy of Domino Publishing Company Limited, (PRS) o/b/ Bryter Music
“I Remember” Arranged and performed by Nell Catchpole.
Licensed courtesy of Domino Publishing Company Limited, (PRS)

 

PRODUCTION TEAM
Produced by Hofesh Shechter Company
Commissioned by Théâtre de la Ville, Paris. Co-commissioned by Sadler’s Wells: Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival; Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg; Seongnam Arts Center/Seongnam Cultural Foundation; Danse Danse Montréal; MC2 : Maison de la Culture de Grenoble - Scène nationale; Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen; Central - La Louvière; Théâtre Sénart - Scène Nationale; Shanghai International Dance Center Theater (SIDCT); Torinodanza Festival / Teatro Stabile di Torino - Teatro Nazionale; Festspielhaus St. Pölten (AT); La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand scène nationale; Maison de la danse, Lyon - Pôle européen de creation; Les Gémeaux - Scène Nationale de Sceaux; Château Rouge, scène conventionnée – Annemasse; Châteauvallon-Liberté, scène nationale; Scène Nationale ALBI-Tarn; Le Carré
Sainte-Maxime with support from Theater Rotterdam; Les Salins - Scène Nationale de Martigues; Marche Teatro / Inteatro Festival; La Briqueterie CDCN du Val-de -Marne and The Maria Björnson Memorial Fund.
Individual Commissioner: Georgia Rosengarten Hofesh Shechter Company is supported using public funding through Arts Council England and benefits from the support of BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of its projects.