Last and First Men by Neon Dance – Bristol Beacon

A performance piece bringing together contemporary dance, live music and film, will be coming to Bristol Beacon this September.

Last and First Men, uses visuals from Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannson’s work of the same name. The film is based on Olaf Stapledon’s visionary 1930s sci-fi novel, set two billion years in the future as humanity teeters on the brink of extinction.

The film was completed by Yair Elazar Glotman after Jóhannson’s death in 2018. Glotman returns as musical director for this live performance of Johannson’s final work.

The show is narrated by Tilda Swinton and performed by three dancers from Swindon’s Neon Dance alongside seven musicians.

Direction and choreography comes from Adrienne Hart with music by both Jóhann Jóhannson & Yair Elazar Glotman.

“It feels like we’re getting fewer and fewer chances to sit and contemplate the world around us,” Choreographer and creator Adrienne Hart said.

“To question our existence, in and outside of pasts and futures. We rarely get to wonder, truly amble through the question, why are we here? This is a work for that. We hope it offers some discomfort and some solace in this. It is not about bombarding an audience with steps, rather, offering them a kind of speculative feast. It’s been an absolute privilege to reimagine this work for the stage and to work with those who were part of Johannsson’s close creative circle to realise the performance alongside live score. I’ve also been able to work alongside long-time collaborators including the award winning artist Ana Rajcevic who has a deep connection to the work.”

Dancers
Kelvin Kilonzo, Aoi Nakamura, Fukiko Takase

Musicians
Yair Elazar Glotman, Else Torp & Echo Collective (Margaret Hermant, first violin; Neil Leiter, viola; Charlotte Danhier, cello; Jaroslaw Mroz, Bass; Sophie Bayet, second violin)

Featured Image: Miles Hart Photography