ALBERTO
RUIZ
SOLER

The Picnic

Contemporary dance (2024)

Whole cast in costumes posing as a surreal tableaux with props and warm lighting

Photo by Camilla Greenwell

The Picnic presents a large group of young humans enjoying themselves in a surreal blend of parading, celebrating, indulging and co-operating activities, all emerging from a dreamlike picnic scenario. The work, co-created with a group of collaborators and a cast of professionals and participants, explores themes of utopia and it is inspired by the painting 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' by H. Bosch, which presents many human figures in a terrestrial paradise, indulging in worldly pleasures.

At The Picnic, a self-made feast, we create moments of visibility and dignity – for ourselves and others-, moments of recognition, of freedom, of care, alongside moments of desire, pleasure, joy, and revel.

The tone is that of a dream; filled with strange scenarios of strong visual and aural textures that invite our senses to indulge into physical sensations and our minds to follow surreal invitations. As the dream unfolds The Picnic world turns more graspable and quotidian, imbued with human endeavours and hopes, and gearing towards a collective celebratory moment.

CREDITS

  • Direction & Choreography: Eva Recacha
  • Performance and devising: Charlotte Mclean, Alicja Nauman, Scilla Rajalin & London Contemporary Dance School Students
  • Sound: Alberto Ruiz Soler
  • Scenography: Kate Lane
  • Lighting Design: Jackie Shemesh
  • Associate Lighting Designer: Joe Hornsby
  • Text: Devised by the Creative Team and throughout R&D periods
  • Rehearsal Director/Assistant choreographer: Scilla Rajalin
  • Production Manager: Ben Moon
  • Costume Supervisor: Sophie Donaldson
  • Costume Assistants: Francis Morris and Emma Lyth
  • Promotional Images: Rocio Chacón
  • Trailer: Genevieve Reeves

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