Rambert's latest touring production is a slippery thing, with all the fragmentary structure of a fever dream and featuring enough dark imagery to induce night sweats. Inspired by Pedro Calderon de la Barca's 17th century baroque play, the original narrative focused on a Polish prince who is imprisoned by his father, only to escape for one day and see the perspective of another world. Danish born, Britain-based Kim Brandstrup's meta choreography uses this as a jumping off point. Here, he taps into the many hidden layers of the subconscious, the activity of the mind in its dreamlike state. This is both blessing and curse, as the elusive quality which governs the piece makes it hard to warm to—initially, at least.
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Rambert perform “Life is a Dream” by Kim Brandstrup. Photograph by Johan Persson


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