Award-winning contemporary dance company, Leigh Warren and Dancers (LWD) bring their latest production, Not According to Plan to this year’s OzAsia Festival. An example of cross-cultural excellence and true artistic collaboration, the production showcases the talents of Chinese-Malaysian furniture designer, Khai Liew, Vietnamese-Australian fashion designer Alistair Trung and Malaysian poet/composer Jerome Kugan.
Notably, the production is a biographical journey which largely follows the life of Xiao-Xiong Zhang, who forms part of the multicultural cast. Set during the political and cultural struggles of 1970s Cambodia and China, Artistic Director Leigh Warren focuses on the achievements which are born from courage, dedication and passion. Put simply, “It’s a celebration”, according to Warren.
Warren describes the piece as an engaging human story. Exploring the themes of love, sacrifice, separation and courage, Not According to Plan is a story which extends across cultural boundaries and resonates with people of all ages.
“This piece is quite literally, a portrait of somebody”, says Warren, “who moved from being separated from his family, and finally moving into being a dancer.”
While Zhang’s journey is principally the focus of the plotline, Warren and his collaborators have weaved elements of personal histories for Liew, Trung and Kugan into the fold.
“Each of these men had forces beyond their control. These men went on diverted journeys, but still had the ability and courage to be the people that they were supposed to be, and I think that is inspiring,” he reflects.
The compact cast of 5 performers includes Zhang as well as 2 Tai and 2 Australian dancers.
“What is really beautiful about these dancers is they have all had a professional life in international settings” says Warren. “Our two Tai dancers both had substantial independent careers, both went on to do their Masters, and then came back to dance with Xiao-Xiong. We have worked closely with these dancers for many years”.
The result is a cast with experience and style elements from Europe, the US, Asia and Australia. It further accentuates the production’s theme of cross-cultural experience and the human element that extends across regional boundaries.
Set designer Khai Liew has created an “extraordinarily aesthetic world” according to Warren, as a backdrop to the storytelling. And as for Alistair Trung’s costuming, Warren reflects “his philosophy is to make clothing that won’t give women a nervous breakdown. You don’t have to be some 13 year old waif to wear his stuff”.
Both Trung and Liew are acclaimed for their work in furniture design and fashion respectively.
“The total visual picture is something quite beautiful”, says Warren.
Having won many industry awards over their twenty years, LWD is renowned for producing art that is inspiring and engaging. Dedicated to telling stories which resonate with a broad audience, the success of LWD has not come from “finding one successful formula and sticking to it”. Unlike other companies with a contemporary specialisation, LWD pushes the boundaries.
“For us, if we change the subject and the music, the whole production will change. Although there might be an overall style the company has, how it is presented is different and I think people like the surprise. I make work for people to see, I don’t make work for myself,” he Warren.
For Warren, the OzAsia Festival is an opportunity to connect and share with our global community, from our home town of Adelaide.
“It’s a great way to explore the things we have in common. [Other countries] don’t know a lot about us… we don’t come onto their news radar. For the future of understanding and tolerance for the next generation, the more we know about each other, the better. This is a project that reaches out to those sorts of things.”
A true South Australian patriarch at heart, Warren is delighted to see his production be part of the OzAsia Festival.
“I think the whole festival is excellent to be engaged with. It is something I am very keen to continue to be a part of. We thought up the Writer’s Festival and this has now gone all across the country. It is great to be a part of something that is happening here, first. I can see OzAsia will go national.”
“Not According to Plan” plays at the Space Theatre on September 20 and 21.
By Bree Downs-Woolley
Not According to Plan
Venue: Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 20-21 September 2013
Duration: 1 hour (no interval)
Tickets: $22.50 – $45.00
Bookings: Book at BASS
More News
