About
To celebrate our 30th Anniversary (1994-2024), VDT presented PLAY, a live retrospective at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, made and performed by four local young people and long term VDT Polish collaborator Aurora Lubos.
PLAY emerged from workshops with young people across Brighton and Sussex, throughout 2023. With thanks to All Sorts, Third Space, Hummingbird Refugee Group, South East Dance Boys Group, Theatre Workshop, B Starz Academy, B-Fest at Brighton Youth Centre, Ceyda Tanc’s Youth Group, BACA, Youth Drama Group in Newhaven, Hazel Court School in Eastbourne, Sir Robert Woodard Academy in Lancing, Cavendish School Eastbourne and participants at VDT’s 2023 Summer School, supported by Brighton Holiday and Food (HAF) Programme.
Reworking and re-staging intimate and ensemble segments of productions from the past 30 years, with 4 young peformers replacing VDT’s adult collaborators, PLAY celebrated young people’s resilience whislt passing the baton on to the next generation of dance makers.
Commissioned by Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival, PLAY was performed at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange on 14 March 2024.
VDT is Associate Company at Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival. VDT is a National Portfolio Organisation, funded by Arts Council England.
Credits
Directed and Designed 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.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 socially engaged movement practice and particularly around her campaigning, creative health work with women at risk, raiaing awareness of violence against women and girls and championing gender equality.
Vincent has long been an advocate for parents and carers working in the performing arts, supporting flexible working and welcoming collaborators children into the working space. Her pioneering work on film with Film Maker Bosie Vincent ensured VDT could distribute VDT’s work throughout the Covid 19 crisis in 2020, work which is no also screened and applied in social work, sociology, creative health and safeguarding training contexts
Charlotte is an experienced keynote 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 Liz Aggiss as V&A Artefacts, curated a 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 in the 2000’s the and Steering Group for Dance UK’s National Choreographic Conference in 2013.
Vincent is Designated Safeguarding Lead for VDT, trained in Trauma Informed Practice, Mental Health First Aid, therapeutic parenting and First Aid. She has completed the Clore Leadership Short Course (2010), the Clore Programme for CEO/Artistic Directors (2011/ 2022) and Clore Brave Conversations Programme (2013) and also trained in FA Football Coaching (2022-2024).
Vincent ‘s work ifs included in several Routledge Publications and MA and PhD students’ dissertations. Her work Art of Attachment lies at the heart of Dr Cath Lambert‘s book Troubling Adoption.
In 2023, 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.
Artistic Associate
Robert Clark
Artistic Associate / Collaborator (He /Him)
Robert Clark was a contemporary dance performer, choreographer and teacher working across Europe and the USA. Robert initially trained at the Laban Centre London BA (hons), before going on to complete his training at London Contemporary Dance School with EDge. Robert worked with VDT from 2011 -2025 as Artistic Associate and Collaborator, devising and performing Broken Chords (2005), Motherland (2012), Underworld (21/21 in 2014), Virgin Territory (2016), Virgin Territory Film Installation (2017), Shut Down (2017), Shut Down Film Installation (2018), Art of Attachment (2018), In Loco Parentis (2020), Art of Attachment on Film (2021), Hold Tight (2022) and PLAY (2024) where he worked as Rehearsal Director and stage manager of the young people inmvolved. Work with other companies include Charles Linehan Dance Comapny, Fevered Sleep, Sasha Waltz and Guests, Cie Felix Ruckert, Cie Soit/Hans van Der Broek, Le Grand Jeu/Louis Zeigler, Lisa Torun Dance Company, Barebones (Rui Horta and Garry Stewart/Australian Dance Theatre), Ben Wrights Bgroup, Alletta Collins and Troika Ranch. Robert’s own choreographic work has been recognised with the Simone Michelle Choreography Award and selection for the “Escalator Dance” programme, becoming a supported artist in the Eastern region of England. Robert was a Work Place (associate) Artist with The Place, London, Resident Artist with Greenwich Dance, Londonand Associate with Dance4 in Nottingham, England. Robert was commissioned by Mapdance (University of Chichester), Wellcome Collection, Academy of Dramatic Art Zagreb and Koreokroj (Croatia). In 2024/5 Robert began a new career in Paediatric Physiotherapy in London.
Composer
Jules Maxwell
Sound Design
Jules Maxwell has composed music for a wide variety of choreographers over the last 20 years, including Wayne McGregor, Dog Kennel Hill Project, Jasmin Vardimon, Jane Mason, Cathy Marston, Charlotte Darbyshire, Theo Clinkard, Filip Van Huffel, New Art Club, Laila Diallo, Charlotte Darbyshire, Hofesh Schecter and Jeanine Durning.
His background is in theatre and he regularly works at the National Theatre, The Young Vic and Shakespeare’s Globe. He also has a long standing relationship with artist Mark Storor with whom he has created many small and large scale promenade and circus pieces.
He composed the soundtrack to Tim Loane’s Oscar nominated short film Dance Lexie Dance (1996).
As a musician and song writer he has collaborated with Dead Can Dance, Foy Vance, Iain Archer and Duke Special.
He has recently co-written a collection of songs with Lisa Gerrard for a forthcoming album by Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares.
At the heart of his music and practice is a curiosity to find links across theatrical disciplines. He is as interested in drama as he is in sound. He cannot avoid hearing music in movement and light and language. He is drawn to the truth found in flaws and scars and people singing badly.
Since moving to France he has begun presenting monthly solo concerts of his own songs in the Café Gallery where he now lives.
Artistic Associate / Performer
Aurora Lubos
Artistic Associate
As an independent artist she created solo performances “Knife, Horse and Stairs.”, “Unfinished” and “Zanzibar”, and installation/performances “Still Alive” (2011) and “Food Cycle” (2011), ” Four corners” (2010), ” .No 1″ (2003), and several short animations “winter 2010”. In 2005 she was nominated to The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. In the past she has worked extensively with Dance Theatre of Gdansk and Dada von Bzdülöw. She collaborated with Avi Kaiser, Tatiana Baganowa, Jerzy Mazzoll, Bronek Duży. With other three artist Jacek Staniszewski, Oskar Martin and Patrycja Kujawska she co-founded KLM’S Group and created “Te Takie Te”.
Aurora first came across VDT’s work when Charlotte was invited to Gdansk to workshop choreographic ideas as part of the Baltic University of Dance Winter Explosion festival. For VDT Aurora has performed in Caravan of Lies (1999), made and toured Drop Dead Gorgeous (2001), Let The Mountains Lead You To Love (2003), Punch Drunk (2004), Broken Chords (2005), Fairy Tale (2006), Look At Me Now, Mummy (2007), If We Go On (2009) and Motherland (2012-2014). Aurora lives in Poland.
Young Performers
Videos
Photos
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Chloe Hashemi
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Chloe Hashemi
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Chloe Hashemi
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Chloe Hashemi
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Chloe Hashemi
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Chloe Hashemi
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Chloe Hashemi
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Chloe Hashemi
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Chloe Hashemi
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2024. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play rehearsal, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop, 2023. Photographer Credit: Bosie Vincent
Play workshop at Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing
Play workshop at Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing
Play workshop at Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing
Play workshop at Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing
Play workshop at Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing
Play workshop at Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing
Play workshop at Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing
Press
“It’s fascinating to glimpse the worlds she’s created – wry, amusing, wistful, eccentric – and her progression as an artist. Vincent’s commitment to working with young people suggests a faith in the future… There may be uncertainty about what’s to come, but PLAY does make you think we should appreciate dance’s back catalogue more often”The Guardian
Audience Feedback
“The cast – particularly the young people were phenomenal – and as I said with Eleanor earlier on Thursday, there is so much about your process, the impact you have on these young people, and the way they are able to respond – it is very unique to your work. I’m looking forward to seeing the films that you will be making from PLAY and seeing how it goes on to have a wider life. ”
“I enjoyed the historical and reflective nature of Play and the journey it took me on through multiple works. I felt immersed into Charlotte’s practice and the stylistic features of her creative methodology were clearly visible. ”
“I thought the cast was very strong and the set was beautiful in that huge gorgeous space. Movement was thought provoking and beautifully choreographed.”
“A wonderful production to a full house. So glad I had a chance to see the work.”
“The work is really outstanding and I've been thinking about it a lot since. ”
“PLAY was so impressive as you witnessed from the response from such a diverse audience.”
“It was a very engaging piece, and I was delighted to see the diversity of the audience.”
“I bloody loved it.”
“What an incredible evening. Very emotive. Those girls have a future on the stage.”
“What a great show. Thank you. It has stayed with me. And I'm intrigued to know more about your process.”
