Marc Brew / Sidi Larbi Cherkaouian Accident / a Life
Freesheet
About the show
A stunning, highly visual theatrical experience, including music, dance, storytelling, film and a car. A semi/autobiographical piece exploring the moments in our lives when everything changes. For Marc, this was his car accident, where he went from ballet dancer to paraplegic in a split second.
Performed by Marc Brew, this solo marks the first collaboration of the Australian, Scotland based artist, with world-renowned Flemish-Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
an Accident/ a Life follows on from Brew’s notable solos, For Now I am… and Remember When, both critically and publicly celebrated.
If you find any of the themes in tonight’s performance upsetting and you need to take a moment, please feel free to exit the auditorium and take some time in our foyer space. A member of staff will be happy to help you back to your seat when you are ready.*
As a choreographer I am interested in how the body moves, and I’ve always looked and searched for how it copes, survives, thrives and changes with time, circumstances and age. With these areas in mind, It’s been extremely rewarding working with Marc because we are from the same generation, he is open and honest about his own unique experiences as a choreographer and dancer. an Accident / a Life is an auto-biographical performance: it’s a testimony of a very intense, specific and personal moment in time.
SIDI LARBI CHERKAOUI
It has been an incredible journey and a dream come true to collaborate with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui in creating our new show ‘an Accident / a Life’. The new work has challenged me creatively and pushed me physically and I am extremely excited to share this ambitious and moving production.
MARC BREW
About the companies
Marc Brew Company
Marc Brew Company is a trailblazing inclusive dance company that creates powerful performances.
We collaborate with disabled and non-disabled artists, to create dynamic and emotive contemporary dance that challenges perceptions.
The company is led by disabled and queer Artistic Director and Choreographer Marc Brew. Marc blends art-forms to create ambitious, exciting work with collaboration at its heart.
Eastman
Founded in January 2010, Eastman was set up to produce and promote the work of its artistic director Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Cherkaoui’s non-hierarchical thinking on movement, body language and culture is the basis of his artistic approach. His work offers the audience a vast array of projects and collaborations across many forms of performance including contemporary dance, theatre, ballet, opera and music.
Biographies
Marc Brew is an Australian performer, director and choreographer whose work has been toured to critical acclaim across the world.
In 2015 he created Exalt the first integrated work for Independance and Scottish Ballet and For Now, I am.., chosen to be part of the first integrated Fringe program, amongst other work. His outdoor work (i)land was commissioned for the Glasgow 2014 Cultural programme and Without Walls. Marc has also produced work for a number of high-profile companies such as AXIS Dance Theatre (USA), Candoco Dance Company, Scottish Dance Theatre, Touch Compass (NZ), Amy Seiwert’s Imagery (USA), The London Contemporary Dance School and YDance.
In 2024 Marc was named as an Arts & Film Big Lottery ‘Game Changer’, listed in both the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 – Performing Arts, Television and Radio winner, and The List’s Hot 100 celebrating one hundred of the most influential Scottish cultural contributors, and nominated for two UK Dance Awards: Outstanding Male Modern Performance and Best Modern Choreography (an Accident / a Life). Marc has been presented with a Centenary Medal for Outstanding Contribution as a dancer and choreographer and in 2014 was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Performance (Individual) at the prestigious Isadora Duncan Awards for his solo piece Remember When.
For more information visit marcbrew.com
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Winner of two Olivier Awards, three Tanz Awards, the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award, and nominated for a Tony Award, choreographer and director Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s work spans contemporary dance, ballet, opera, theatre, circus, musical, and cinema.
After seven seasons as ballet director at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Cherkaoui now helms the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève and his own Antwerp-based contemporary dance company, Eastman.
The thirst to join hands with his counterparts has been a constant in his artistic DNA; well-known examples include Sutra (with the Shaolin monks and sculptor Antony Gormley, 2008), Dunas (with Maria Pagès, 2009), zero degrees (with Akram Khan, 2005), and since the foundation of Eastman, Play (with Shantala Shivalingappa, 2010), 生长genesis (with Yabin Wang, 2013), and Session (with Colin Dunne, 2019).
Cherkaoui’s profile as a ballet choreographer gained attention thanks to collaborations with among others Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, the Dutch National Ballet, and The Royal Ballet. In 2014 he directed his first of many operas, Shell Shock by Nicholas Lens and Nick Cave.
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is the choreographer behind several acclaimed films (Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina and Cyrano, Lukas Dhont’s Girl), circus shows (Cirque du Soleil’s Kurios and Michael Jackson ONE), musicals (Jagged Little Pill, to Alanis Morissette’s music, and Starmania, by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon), and musical artists (Beyoncé, Woodkid, Madonna).
Artistic Team & Credits
Director Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Performer and Co-creator Marc Brew
Designer Pepijn Van Looy
Costume Stylist Veerle Van den Wouwer
Composition and Instrumentation Alexandre Dai Castaing
Visual Artist Maxime Guislain
Rehearsal Director Hayley Earlam
Camera Operators / Stage hand Kazutomi Kozuki, Pol Van den Broek
Voice Consultant Susan Worsfold
Audio Describer Emma-Jane McHenry
Access Consultant Yvonne Strain
Creative Producer Susan Hay
Producer Gert Van Overloop
Stage Manager / Technical Manager Nils Geernaert
Assistant Stage Manager Maddy Burt
Sound Designer / Engineer Sam Martin-Randerson
Video Engineer Jamie Wardrop
Production Managers Nils Geernaert, Nia Wood
Rigger Imogen Michel
Marc Brew PA / Stage Hand Melanie Wilson
Cello Julia Kent
Art Direction & Production Floris Van Looy and Robbie Van Nieuwenhove, Tanker
Press and Communications Jonas Schildermans
Press and Communications Joy Parkinson
Marketing Rebecca Doggett
With thanks to Ruth Little, David Street, George Bushway, Katy Steele, Ivy Gamboa, Ali Low, James Gardner, Robert Softley Gale, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Scottish Opera, Danni Bastian, and Grid Iron.
This production is in honour of, and dedicated to Joanne, Simon and Toby and our families.
A Marc Brew Company and Eastman production. In co-production with: Perpodium; the Hessisches Staatsballett in the frame of Tanzplattform Rhein-Main a collaboration project between the Hessisches Staatsballett in Staatstheater Darmstadt and Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden and Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm; Holland Dance Festival and Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps.
In Association with National Theatre Scotland. Co-commissioned by Tramway and Sadler’s Wells.
Developed in residency at the Théâtre National de Bretagne (TNB), Cumbernauld Theatre, The Work Room and De Warande.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body. With the support of the Flemish Government and the Belgian Federal Government’s Tax Shelter programme and Creative Scotland.
In co-production with Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps
With the support of the Flemish Government and the Belgian Federal Government’s Tax Shelter programme.
*If you have been affected by any of the issues explored in tonight’s performance please find links below to charities who can provide support:
Back up Trust – provides support, mentoring, and wheelchair skills training to build confidence after an SCI. They help with returning to work or education and support family members too and have a dedicated service for children and young people.
Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) – a national, user-led organization providing a free advice line (0800 980 0501) and practical support.
Spinal Injuries Scotland – a charity that supports individuals with spinal cord injuries in Scotland including peer support.
Phone: 08000132305
Aspire – a national charity focusing on practical help for people paralysed by SCI.
Their Independent Living Advisors provide advice on living with an SCI.
Brain and Spine Foundation offers various support groups for those with spinal cord injuries and their carers across the UK.
Horatio’s Garden nurtures the wellbeing of people after spinal injury in beautiful, vibrant sanctuaries within the heart of NHS spinal injury centres.
The Good Grief Trust – providing vital resources for people experiencing bereavement including links to charities and helplines across the UK.
Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day. Phone: 116123