Company of Elders Mixed Bill
Freesheet
Company of Elders invite you to join them on a journey of identity through two compelling dance pieces created specially for them by choreographers John-William Watson and Charlotta Öfverholm.
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 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.
This mixed bill is part of Elixir Festival. Celebrate creative ageing with three weeks of inspiring performances, workshops, talks and more from 13 – 27 April.
They Look Like People
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.
Survival Kit
A tragicomic dance theatre piece
A raw, honest, and at times absurd stage work where humour and vulnerability meet. In Survival Kit, the dancers share their own strategies for survival – on stage and in life.
Through body, movement, and storytelling, personal “survival kits” are explored: what we hold on to, what we escape from, and what truly sustains us when everything trembles.
A piece where laughter and recognition exist dangerously close to one another.
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 begun 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
Charlotta Öfverholm
Charlotta Öfverholm is a Stockholm-based choreographer and performer with more than four decades of international experience in contemporary performing arts. Her artistic language moves between physical dance, spoken word and music, characterised by strong stage presence and a dynamic interplay between humour, existential depth and musicality.
As a performer, she has worked throughout Europe as well as in New York and Los Angeles with companies and choreographers including DV8 Physical Theatre, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet (Dwight Rhoden), Roberto Galván, Robert Poole, Joseph Tmim, Corinne Lanselle, Metros and Farm in the Cave, among others. In Sweden, she performed the role of Death in Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal at Uppsala City Theatre, directed by Benke Rydman and Hugo Hansén. She has performed in works by Björn Elisson, Dorte Olesen and Alexander Ekman (Kuckel). She is currently touring internationally with Scottish Ballet in the role of Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots.
Since 1995, Öfverholm has created more than 35 original works presented nationally and internationally. She has choreographed for GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, Norrdans, SPIRA and RTV, as well as opera productions including Melancholia (Royal Swedish Opera), Un Ballo in Maschera and Carmina Burana (Folkoperan). In recent years she has also worked with film in collaboration with Anders Larsson and Mia Kaasalainen, including projects connected to Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage in London.
In 2015 she founded Age on Stage, an artistic initiative challenging ageism in the dance field and redefining the ageing body as a creative force. The project developed into an international movement with productions, workshops, research and festivals focusing on age and dance. She has after this created 4 full length work for people over 65 years of age as well as 3 documentaries and 2 dance films for this age group.
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.
Members of Company of Elders:
Ashanti Stennett
Berni Durso
Beverly Freckleton
Eve Peters
Fred Manson
Sami Okamoto
Isi Joseph
Jennifer James
Judy Lipsey
Kate Marshall
Keiko Onishi
Lindsay Simons
Lois Davis
Margaret Gaskin
Milet Ferstman
Roberto Ishii
Ros Reeder
Terri Erdem
Artistic Team & Credits
They Look Like People
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
Survival Kit
Choreography and Direction Charlotta Öfverholm
Lighting Designer Amelia Hawkes
Music Asaf Avidan, Waldeck Patricia Ferrera, Waldeck Joy Malcolm, Sparks Adam Driver from the movie Annette, Big Rock Balalaikas, One/A Chorus Line
For Sadler’s Wells
Director of Learning & Engagement Joce Giles
Producer, Learning & Engagement Christopher Haddow
Projects Manager, Learning & Engagement Elaine Foley
Senior Projects Officer, Learning & Engagement Brittany Roberts
Projects Coordinator, Learning & Engagement Siân Gilling
Head of Production Adam Carrée
Stage Manager Lou Stevens
Company of Elders Creative Support Artist Simona Scotto
Marketing Manager (Producing & Touring) Natalie Zagaglia
Marketing and Communications Coordinator Hebe Salmon
Media Officer Olivia Fahy