About
Intercourse was VDT’s first ever live production: a duet that powersed through the brutality and deep internal upheaval implicit in male sexual possession of women.
Fiercely physical partnering, with moments of calm, reflective solo work, set against a backdrop of pornographic slide projections, Intercourse seizes upon the fragile human quest for intimacy and kindness against a backdrop of power struggles, misogyny and male ownership.
Intercourse was funded by Sheffield City Arts and Yorkshire and Humberside Arts.
Credits
Artistic Director
Charlotte Vincent
Artistic Director & Chief Executive (She/Her)
Charlotte formed Vincent Dance Theatre (VDT) in 1994 and has directed all the company’s collaborative work to date, on stage and on film. Vincent has also designed the work since 2005 and performed with the company until 2002. Vincent’s distinctive, contemporary choreography ‘stages ideas’ and embeds her own and her collaborators’ lived experience within the work, raising awareness of personal and political issues, breaking down the barriers between professional and non-professional performers and in VDT’s film installation and engagement spaces, between audience and participant.
Vincent is recognised as a sector leader in movement based socially engaged creative practice and creative health, particularly around her work with care-experienced young people and women at risk, championing gender equality and advocating for best practice to support parents and carers working in the performing arts. Her pioneering work on film ensired VDT were ‘covid ready and able to work through Covid and consequently allows Vincent’s work to be purposefully ‘applied’ in non-arts settings as well within conventional arts venues and settings.
Charlotte is an experienced speaker, lecturer and Mentor, working with early and mid-career artists to develop their creative practice and production work. Vincent has also worked as a director, dramaturg, and facilitator for other artists and companies, most notably Two Destination Language (Near Gone, winner Total Theatre Awards for Innovation and Experimentation 2014), Keira Martin (Here Comes Trouble Sadlers Wells Wild Card and Good Blood) and facilitating early R&D for Sue MacLaine’s Can I Start Again Please (2013).
In the past, Vincent has performed and collaborated with Professor Liz Aggiss as V&A Artefacts, curated an inaugural 4-week festival of experimental performance practice, Juncture at Yorkshire Dance in Leeds and co-hosted The Table, a forum to nurture dialogue across disciplines between established female artists with Dr Claire Macdonald. Charlotte sat on the Artists Advisory Group at Yorkshire Dance for several years and Steering Group for Dance UK’s National Choreographic Conference in 2013. Most recently she has been a driving force behind the development of the London Road Network in Brighton, a collaborative group of organisations and individuals working towards deeper interaction between arts orgs and grassroots organisations in one of Brighton’s more deprived areas.
Vincent is Safeguarding Lead for VDT, trained in Trauma Informed Practice, Mental Health First Aid, therapeutic parenting, and First Aid. She completed a Clore Leadership Short Course (2010), the Clore Programme for CEO/Artistic Directors (2011) and Clore Brave Conversations Programme (2013). Vincent is also trained in FA Football Coaching.
Vincent has written chapters and been written about in several Routledge Publications (resources) and PhD’s, and her work Art of Attachment lies at the heart of Dr Cath Lambert‘s imminent publication Troubling Adoption.
In 2023, Dr Vincent gained a PhD in Performing Arts from Canterbury Christ Church University, reflecting on VDT’s socially engaged practice, supervised by Professor Angela Pickard, Director of the Sidney de Haan Centre for Arts and Health.
Dr Charlotte Vincent lives in Brighton with her son, who loves mountain biking, fishing and gaming.
Artistic Advisor
Soundtrack
Devised and Performed by
Charlotte Vincent
Artistic Director & Chief Executive (She/Her)
Charlotte formed Vincent Dance Theatre (VDT) in 1994 and has directed all the company’s collaborative work to date, on stage and on film. Vincent has also designed the work since 2005 and performed with the company until 2002. Vincent’s distinctive, contemporary choreography ‘stages ideas’ and embeds her own and her collaborators’ lived experience within the work, raising awareness of personal and political issues, breaking down the barriers between professional and non-professional performers and in VDT’s film installation and engagement spaces, between audience and participant.
Vincent is recognised as a sector leader in movement based socially engaged creative practice and creative health, particularly around her work with care-experienced young people and women at risk, championing gender equality and advocating for best practice to support parents and carers working in the performing arts. Her pioneering work on film ensired VDT were ‘covid ready and able to work through Covid and consequently allows Vincent’s work to be purposefully ‘applied’ in non-arts settings as well within conventional arts venues and settings.
Charlotte is an experienced speaker, lecturer and Mentor, working with early and mid-career artists to develop their creative practice and production work. Vincent has also worked as a director, dramaturg, and facilitator for other artists and companies, most notably Two Destination Language (Near Gone, winner Total Theatre Awards for Innovation and Experimentation 2014), Keira Martin (Here Comes Trouble Sadlers Wells Wild Card and Good Blood) and facilitating early R&D for Sue MacLaine’s Can I Start Again Please (2013).
In the past, Vincent has performed and collaborated with Professor Liz Aggiss as V&A Artefacts, curated an inaugural 4-week festival of experimental performance practice, Juncture at Yorkshire Dance in Leeds and co-hosted The Table, a forum to nurture dialogue across disciplines between established female artists with Dr Claire Macdonald. Charlotte sat on the Artists Advisory Group at Yorkshire Dance for several years and Steering Group for Dance UK’s National Choreographic Conference in 2013. Most recently she has been a driving force behind the development of the London Road Network in Brighton, a collaborative group of organisations and individuals working towards deeper interaction between arts orgs and grassroots organisations in one of Brighton’s more deprived areas.
Vincent is Safeguarding Lead for VDT, trained in Trauma Informed Practice, Mental Health First Aid, therapeutic parenting, and First Aid. She completed a Clore Leadership Short Course (2010), the Clore Programme for CEO/Artistic Directors (2011) and Clore Brave Conversations Programme (2013). Vincent is also trained in FA Football Coaching.
Vincent has written chapters and been written about in several Routledge Publications (resources) and PhD’s, and her work Art of Attachment lies at the heart of Dr Cath Lambert‘s imminent publication Troubling Adoption.
In 2023, Dr Vincent gained a PhD in Performing Arts from Canterbury Christ Church University, reflecting on VDT’s socially engaged practice, supervised by Professor Angela Pickard, Director of the Sidney de Haan Centre for Arts and Health.
Dr Charlotte Vincent lives in Brighton with her son, who loves mountain biking, fishing and gaming.
Videos
Photos
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still ofCharlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, VHS video still of Charlotte Vincent by Vincent
Intercourse, 1994. Dress rehearsal photo: Paula Summerly.
Intercourse, 1994, Pre-production photo of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994, Pre-production photo of Charlotte Vincent
Pre-production shot Charlotte Vincent, for Intercourse 1994, Photo: Paula Summerly
Intercourse, 1994, Pre-production photo of Harry Theaker and Charlotte Vincent
Intercourse, 1994. Pre-production photo: Paula Summerly.
Intercourse, 1994. Pre-production photo: Paula Summerly.
Intercourse, 1994. Pre-production photo of Charlotte Vincent: Credit Paula Summerly.
Intercourse, 1994. Pre-production photo: Paula Summerly.
Press
“Sheer female strength, challenging the concept of male classical dance, powerful work at the vanguard of physical theatre.”Jane Meredith, Sheffield Telegraph, 1995.
“The audience was cleverly guided through the process of growing up.”Angela Boast, York Journal, 1995.
“In their fiercely provocative debut piece Intercourse, Charlotte Vincent and Harry Theaker flash the flesh, but stir the brain rather than the loins, as they examine sexual possession and the quest for personal intimacy and equality rather than dominance or deviation. ”Stephanie Ferguson, Yorkshire Post, 11 Feb 1995.
“...an intelligent, electric piece of physical theatre exploring the complex world of sexual possession. ”Charles Hutchinson, Yorkshire Evening Press, 26 Jan 1995.
“Sheffield-based Vincent Dance Theatre present Intercourse at the Mappin...”Jane Tadman, Sheffield Telegraph, 13 Jan 1995.
“Intercourse is depicted in right-on feminist terms, with man the perpetrator of an act of self-empowerment...”Scotland on Sunday, 10 Nov 1994.
“A hard-hitting dance performance which aims to challenge and stimulate.”Unknown, 1994
“Lyrical, bold, tender, intelligent.”
The List
Audience Feedback
“In a nation where sex is not openly discussed, this frank and direct preformance breached taboo and provided the audience with a powerful experience.”
“I liked the use of spoken word.”
“Food for thought. Curious about why people perform this kind of piece, put themselves in that situation... duet very powerful and innovative.”
“Spoke to an older lady afeter the performance and she was quite moved by the piece, felt a lot of people of her age would be shocked, and it made her think about the way she had brought up her children...”
“They work well together, particularly as Harry is a dancer and Charlotte a theatre person... thouroughly and deeply explored the material... it was uncomfortable because it was so powerfully put across.”
“Woman manipulated and decorated by man. Challenging images. From passive to strength of woman - impressed with the subtlety of the development of the performance.”
“A very important piece - moving things seen before on, not just shallowly dealing with shock... works well in a closed space.”
“Strong, well presented, important work. Surpassed expectations.”
Choreographic Notebooks
Intercourse, 1994. Charlotte Vincent's handwritten notes on structure.
Intercourse, 1994. Charlotte Vincent's handwritten notes and set design.
Intercourse, 1994. Charlotte Vincent's handwritten notes on Mother/Son page 1.
Intercourse, 1994. Charlotte Vincent's handwritten notes on Mother/Son page 2.
Intercourse, 1994. Charlotte Vincent's handwritten notes on Father/Daughter page 2.
Intercourse, 1994. Charlotte Vincent's handwritten notes for "power dance" page 1.
Intercourse, 1994. Charlotte Vincent's handwritten notes for "power dance" page 2.
Intercourse, 1994. Charlotte Vincent's handwritten notes for "power dance" page 3.
Marketing
Some of Intercourse's original marketing materials are available for download here:
Intercourse Tour Programme, 1994. Photographs Graham Jepsom.
Intercourse Tour Programme, 1994. Photographs Graham Jepsom.
Intercourse Press Release, The Dance Exchange, 1994.
Intercourse Press Release, The Dance Exchange, 1994.
Intercourse Programme, Wakefield Arts Centre, 1994.
Intercourse Programme, Wakefield Arts Centre, 1994.
Technical & Design
Some of Intercourse's original technical notes and stage plans are available for download here: