Company of Elders Mixed Bill

Freesheet

Four older people stand in a line. One is wearing a party hat, and another is holding The Who's Quadrophenia vinyl record.

In loving memory of Company of Elders dancers Pam Zinkin and Genia Browning

The Company of Elders invite you to join them on a journey of identity through two compelling new dance pieces, created specially for them by choreographers Euan Garrett and John-William Watson.

Working closely with both artists, the Company have brought their personal stories and experiences to the stage – exploring what it means to be individual, yet part of a group. The result is two distinct and original dance works that celebrate uniqueness, creativity, and connection.

Today, we celebrate dance, friendship, and the joy of moving – together as individuals and as a vibrant community of older dancers who love to perform.

They Look Like People by John-William Watson

Our bodies may be containers, but they will carry specific histories. And those histories are still meaningful.
Chana Porter / The Seep

Who are we, in the awkward moments in-between? Waiting for the kettle to boil, the rain to stop, the bus to arrive; the beautiful but seemingly unremarkable moments. In Watson’s latest surreal dance play, we are invited to observe a group of strangers inside a doctor’s waiting room; as their comfort in their anonymity is slowly upended by a person who is uncannily not like the others.

An absurdly whimsical exploration of identity, They Look Like People is co-choreographed, co-written by and made in collaboration with Sadler’s Wells’ Company of Elders.

Writer, Director, Choreographer John-William Watson
Set and Costume Designer Joshua Cartmell
Composer and Sound Artist Adam Vincent Clarke
Lighting Designer Amelia Hawkes
Voice Actor Beth Emmerson
Violin Edgar Gomes
Vocalists Barbershop John and Valentina Jazz

About John-William Watson

John-William Watson is a freelance, choreographer, director and dancer from Beeston, Leeds UK.

After graduating from The Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp BE in 2019 they swiftly carved a path for themselves creating critically acclaimed, surreal, dance-plays; often exploring the interplay between science fiction, dark-comedy and contemporary dance. Creating “laugh-out-loud” worlds on stage that “look at the absurdity of the world with a smile.” – The Stage
Watson was previously a Young Associate Choreographer at Sadler’s Wells 2020-22, Northern Connection Artist 2021-22, Messums West 4×20 Artist 2023, Cultured Magazine International Artist 2023 and Phoenix Dance Theatre Friday Artist 2024. Touring and creating shows nationally and internationally their work has been described by Article 19 as “just what the wide world of dance needs right now.”

In recent years Watson has began performing in their own company works and for UK based dance artist Beth Emmerson. Their transition to performing began with their first solo company work ‘Why This Chair Does Not Exist’ in 2023; which has since toured nationally and internationally. A slap-stick, surreal character portrait exploring an individuals relationship with consciousness and mortality; hued by the worlds of Buster Keaton and Jacques Tati.

Working with Company of Elders on They Look Like People has been a truly collaborative one. We began the process with discussions on identity, on what shapes us, what things or events carve out who we are. I shared a lot about myself, my work and stories about who I am and in turn I was greeted with the beautiful, strange, sometimes sad, sometimes funny stories of 22 dancers, and who they are. The foundation of this new work is built from exactly that – it’s about someone’s favourite scarf, it’s about someone’s childhood home, it’s about the movies someone used to sneak into, it’s about what chocolates someone got their mum for her birthday; the beautifully unremarkable moments.
John-William Watson

The Real Me by Euan Garrett

The Real Me leads us on an investigation of 1960’s culture and mod identity, which many of the company members experienced firsthand, inspired by Euan Garrett’s role in Sadler’s Wells’ production of Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia, A Mod Ballet.

Exploring themes of memory and identity, The Real Me takes us back to the 1960s. Through movement, we step into the world of Mods and Rockers, experiencing a day in the life of each persona. The piece captures the energy, style, and spirit of the era, while reflecting on how these identities shaped youth culture and self-expression.

Working with Company of Elders has been an absolute joy. Their openness and lack of judgement has created such a supportive environment, where every idea can be explored with enthusiasm. They are incredibly willing, responsive, and generous with their own suggestions, which has enriched the creative process. It has truly been both a pleasure and an honour to collaborate with them in bringing The Real Me to life.
Euan Garrett

Choreographer Euan Garrett
Lighting Designer Amelia Hawkes
Costume Joshua Cartmell
Designer Danielle Levy

About Euan Garrett

Euan Garrett trained at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts (2016–22) and completed the Jasmin Vardimon 2 (JV2) Professional Development Programme (2022–23).
Euan’s early roles include Percy in New Adventures’ Lord of the Flies (Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 2014), child cast in Nutcracker with Scottish Ballet (2014-15) and English National Ballet (2016-17).
Euan played Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (West End, 2015–16) and featured in Death in Venice (Royal Opera House, 2019). Most recently, he toured as Benvolio in New Adventures’ Romeo and Juliet (2023–24) and most recently, Euan has appeared in Peter Townshend’s Quadrophenia, A Mod Ballet, playing at Sadler’s Wells and touring the UK.
Euan is currently playing the role of Peeta in the stage adaptation of The Hunger Games.

About Company of Elders

Company of Elders is Sadler’s Wells’ resident dance company for non-professional dancers aged 60+ from the local community. Each year since its establishment in 1989, the company commissions a renowned choreographer to make a new work for public performance, raising interest in dance for older people in the UK and abroad while also celebrating the unique contribution older adults make to our shared cultural landscape. Company of Elders dancers aspire to share the joy of lifelong creativity through their performances and encourage others by demonstrating that it’s never too late to start something new.

For Sadler’s Wells
Director of Learning & Engagement Joce Giles
Producer, Learning & Engagement Christopher Haddow
Projects Manager, Learning & Engagement (Maternity Leave) Elaine Foley
Projects Manager, Learning & Engagement (Maternity Cover) Katie Vernon-Smith
Senior Projects Officer, Learning & Engagement Brittany Roberts
Projects Coordinator, Learning & Engagement Siân Gilling
Head of Production Adam Carrée
Company of Elders Creative Support Artist Simona Scotto
Marketing Manager Natalie Zagaglia
Marketing and Communications Coordinator Steven Lou
Senior Media Officer Laura Neil