201 Dance Company’s Andrea Walker on Sad Book
There can surely be nothing worse than losing a child. To tell that story is difficult enough, but to begin to articulate how it feels to exist as normal life resumes around you is a truly daunting challenge. The critically acclaimed production Sad Book, adapted from the autobiographical novel by Michael Rosen, who lost his son Eddie at the age of 18, attempts through dance to tell the story of how we navigate sadness. Performed by 201 Dance Company the show is all set to undertake a UK tour, starting next week at Brighton.
We were delighted to speak with Artistic Director Andrea Walker, also director and choreographer for the show, about what to expect in this unique piece of work.
Hi Andrea. Thank you so much for talking to us about Sad Book. Firstly, can you tell us a bit about the story behind the piece?
It’s my pleasure! Sad Book is a moving story of a father coming to terms with the loss of his child. The book tells us that sometimes, feeling sad is ok. No ifs, no buts, no moral at the end of the story. It’s really what makes Sad Book so special and what we wanted to capture with the stage adaptation.
While the book is targeted at a younger audience, we find that its themes and language transcend age, which is why the show is for anyone aged 12+.
Sad Book is for anyone who has struggled – or is still struggling – with feelings that are hard to put into words. Many people have tried to describe sadness, yet the way Michael Rosen does it, with such simple yet effective language, hits you right to the core. We wanted to channel that “deceptive simplicity” throughout the whole production:
It’s a complex show with a meticulously designed aesthetic that still manages to keep us connected at its heart, to that pure, honest tone and imaginative world building a children’s book has.
Child bereavement is an enormously difficult topic to take on. Why did you choose this book to adapt for the stage?
In 2016, I was at a bit of a loss on what to create next.
Back then I was spending a lot of time in Wales, and there was an exhibition about Quentin Blake’s work happening at the Cardiff Museum. I decided to check it out!
About 10 pages of Sad Book were exhibited in one of the galleries (Quentin Blake drew the book’s illustrations). I had never read anything like it… I had never read anything that spoke to my own struggles with depression, mental health and grief the way Sad Book did. I knew I wanted to tackle a stage adaptation of the book the second I left the museum.
How do you feel that dance helps to articulate grief in a way other performance styles can’t, and what further elements have you brought to the production to enhance that process?
My experience with grief is physical and all-consuming. I find it to be an emotion that lives in your body, one that gets between your bones and takes a gripping hold of you if you let it.
But grief also hides a lot of beauty. Because we’re only sad at the loss of someone, if that someone was truly loved by us.
Writing this, it’s hard for me to fully explain what grief feels like and what it means to me. Sometimes words are simply not enough… Dance and movement are such powerful tools to express the unsaid and articulate the unexplainable.
The production has a beautiful original score, an intricate set and lighting design, striking animations and a few more surprises we don’t want to spoil.
Can you talk a little about the cast and creatives for the tour?
Alan Coveney is our wonderful lead, taking the role of Michael Rosen himself (their resemblance needs to be seen to be believed). Alan is joined by our dancers Tamae Yoneda, Yasmin Cogan de Abreu, Sam Reeves, Austin Bathgate, CJ Driver and Michaela Cisarikova (who is also Assistant Choreographer and Rehearsal Director).
Our Production and Lighting Design are from Louisa Smurthwaite, who’s brilliantly designed every 201 show since the company’s inception in 2014. The score is by the brilliant Richard Evans, while gorgeous animations are from Liu Bofan, Harriet Bruce and Really Creative Media. Patrick Collier is our Associate Director, and the show is produced by Natalie Allison. I directed and choreographed.
The story is based on Michael Rosen’s personal loss and he has supplied the narrative voiceover for the production. What has been his response to the show?
Michael’s response has been overwhelmingly positive. He’s been such a supporter of the show since its premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which has been extremely validating and – to be honest – a huge sigh of relief.
I knew how important and personal Sad Book is for Michael, so it was important to me to treat the project with the utmost care, love and respect. The fact that we were able to fully embed Michael in the show for selected tour dates and our date at Hackney Empire is a dream come true.
He’ll be narrating the book live on stage whilst the movement takes place. To have Michael not only support the show but be a physical part of it is beyond all our expectations. We believe it’ll make for a really touching, one-of-a-kind way to experience Sad Book.
And what about audiences? What did they tell you, following your celebrated launch at the Edinburgh Fringe last year?
The audience response has been really touching. One particular woman wrote to us after the show to thank us and say “I never expected to stumble across what might well turn out to be the long lost key to unlocking the grief process in my soul”.
To this day, reading that comment makes me emotional. It’s the best piece of feedback I’ve ever received for any of my work.
There are support systems in place for audiences affected by the show. Can you tell us about them, and the relevant organisations you’ve connected with?
Absolutely! The themes covered in Sad Book make it an emotional, at times difficult show to watch. Every performance will have a designated safe space with a professional, compassionate listener available for anyone who might find themselves needing to step out and take a moment to breathe. The use of these spaces – throughout any part of the performance – is encouraged and comes with no judgement.
Sad Book is made in partnership with Child Bereavement UK and the Hera Project. They are both wonderful organisations doing incredible work in the bereavement and mental health sector. It’s an absolute privilege to have the show associated with them and we look forward to chatting to representatives from both as part of our post show panel discussions.
Thanks very much to Andrea for talking to us about this extraordinary work. We very much look forward to seeing it when it comes to Hackney Empire on Wednesday 2 April. Booking details can be found here and watch this space for our review.
Sad Book will be touring the UK (Brighton, Norwich and Banbury) during March. Further information on dates and venues can be found here.
