Hofesh Schechter's Sun (Plymouth)

AMAZING.

Brighton-based Israeli choreographer with a penchant for drum and percussion Hofesh Shechter unleashes his 2013 creation Sun on an appreciative public.

With a trademark pitch black opening, Shechter tells us that no animals have been harmed in the making of this and that he will show us the end so we can be reassured that it all turns out well. And he does which, helpfully, also tells us when to applaud at the end.
Humour over, the tale begins rather sheepishly before a wolf brings the bucolic moment to a screaming halt.

There follows 70some minutes of contrasts: folksy-raw; fluid-stuttering; violent-languid; vital physicality-stillness. Pounding, palpable electronic music is interspaced with bagpipes, Wagner, Irving Berlin and silence, but all beautifully crisp and absolutely spot-on thanks to sound engineer Mike Bignell. And the Company is superb – meticulous whether in perfect synchronicity or solo with precision in every finger, elbow and knee.

Ensemble pieces, comedic moments, musicless dance … it's all there alongside loin-clothed natives, pith-helmeted Colonials, hoodies and executives, head-banging sheep, death, madness and euphoria.

No real idea what is going on – perhaps a whistlestop tour of everything under the sun and history repeating itself? – but that does not detract from the jaw-dropping, visceral experience.

Stunning.

– Karen Bussell