In 1994 hundreds of coal miners hung up their pit boots as Grimethorpe Colliery was destroyed, along with the tight-knit working-class community that surrounded it.
Created to mark the 25th anniversary since the demolition and 30 years since the rise of UK rave culture, WASTELAND is the highly anticipated new dance theatre show from acclaimed British choreographer Gary Clarke and the sequel to his multi-award-winning production COAL.
This thrilling yet deeply touching production takes a close look at how two generations coped in this era of radical upheaval. A fractured relationship between a father and son is at the heart of the story, and as we see one generation grind exhaustedly to a halt, we follow the next into the 90s illegal rave scene, where derelict warehouses and abandoned work spaces became home for a new-found community of music and dance.
Bringing together Clarke’s vivid physical dance language performed by a company of exceptional dancers, a community cast of singers, brass musicians, archive film footage, a powerful rave soundtrack and unique artwork by Jimmy Cauty (co-founder of The KLF), WASTELAND dives headfirst into a gritty story of loss, hope, escapism and survival.
“Blisteringly fierce”★★★★ The Herald
“Poignant and thrilling”★★★★ The Skinny
“Brilliant”★★★★★ The Herald on Sunday
“Wasteland is a truly wonderful piece of dance-theatre: humane, politically charged, by turns funny and sad.”★★★★★ The Stage
CREDITS
Wasteland is co-commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse, Tramway, Cast, Dance4, The Place, DanceXchange, Gulbenkian,Art31, Contact, Grand Theatre Blackpool, Civic Barnsley, Yorkshire Dance, with additional support from Lawrence Batley Theatre, Northern Ballet, Leeds Dance Partnership, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Jon Kinsey Hairdressing, Stirling Pit Women and public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
CONTENT WARNINGS
This performance contains suggestion of death, some strong language, strobe lighting, loud music, haze and smoke effects
ACCESS
If you have any access needs you want to discuss with us, please call the box office Monday to Friday between 10am – 10pm on 0161 274 0600.
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Once you have been booked in a wheelchair seat once, you can book online from then onwards and do not have to call our box office team to facilitate your booking. Please do reach out if you have any questions about this process.
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THE PINCH TICKET
Times are hard. They are getting harder. Despite that, we know that art will prevail.
Our lowest concession rate – called The Pinch ticket – is now available for anyone who needs it, with no proof required.
To book your The Pinch ticket, simply proceed to check out at any event of your choice and input the number of tickets required into the ‘The Pinch’ field. For any queries, reach out to our wonderful Box Office team at boxoffice@contactmcr.com.
