ATTENDANCE SHEET
Write a 150-word response to the film ENTER ACHILLES performed by DV8 and choreographed by Lloyd Newson
What do you think the filmmaker was trying to communicate about the Culture, Traditions, and Values of the society in which the dance takes place?
Film
In 1995, Lloyd Newson collaborated with the director Clara Van Gool to adapt the stage piece for film. The resulting piece, which was screened at numerous film festivals around the world, received numerous awards, including an Emmy Award for the Performing Arts in 1997
Excerpt from the performance by DV8 physical theater
Enter Achilles is a performance created by the dance and theatre company DV8 Physical Theatre and directed by Lloyd Newson. First performed on 7 June 1995 in Vienna, Austria, the piece initially toured around the UK and Europe in 1995, before moving to Australia in early 1996. The performance was later revived and toured in 1997, visiting Europe and North America, and again in 1998, where it toured Europe and Japan.
An award-winning film version was released in 1996.
Description
The performance, with a run time of 75 minutes, explores masculinity and our perception of the stereotypical “bloke”. Set in a dark, dusty, British pub, a group of men gathers around the blasting jukebox, a pint in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Movement- and dance-based, this physical theatre performance uncovers the men’s insecurities and vulnerability. The concept of gender is investigated through the understanding of what we deem as “unmanly” and this is closely represented through the gestures, action, and movement of the performers, a technique which is often associated with the work of Newson and DV8. Looking at conformity regarding male relationships, friendships, and identity the performance attempts to realize the struggle of being a “real” man. The piece is an exploration, concentrating on the complications of existence within a man’s world.
