Review: Colossus, Southbank Centre

Originally conceived and performed in Melbourne in 2018, Stephanie Lake’s Colossus joins the Southbank Centre’s 75^th anniversary year celebrations. Bringing together 60 graduating students from the London Contemporary Dance School, this production is giving the grads a taste of things to come, as they join the dance industry as professionals.

On entering the auditorium, the ensemble is already on stage. Lying down and linked together by hand in a perfect circle, it’s like they have landed from outer space and are waiting for their humans to arrive. Clever lighting by Bosco Shaw, which continues throughout the performance, adds a mystical vibe, and the whole start creates a sense of anticipation amongst the incoming throng. A great and clever opportunity too for people to take some snapshots.

The circle slowly comes to life, creating mesmerising shapes and pulsating flows, all perfectly in sync, almost like a small Mexican wave. At various points, a lone dancer takes to the centre, leading the rest of the troupe, who are all completely transfixed on their leader, in their next moves. Some powerful, modern movement, often contortionist-like, gives the start of the show a very contemporary feel. However, it’s difficult to tell at this stage whether there is going to be any kind of narrative throughout the brief 50-minute performance.

The ensemble rises and we begin a more frantic chapter, with the group split into two on either side of the stage, as if in a dance-off, again with several principal dancers taking the lead. Adding in vocalisation creates a chaotic, frenzied segment as the auditorium goes into complete darkness. On come the lights and we find the troupe in perfect stillness, in line, en masse, staring into the audience. Very powerfully done.

The show continues along similar lines, dipping between beautifully crafted group segments and more chaotic (no doubt 100% choreographed) elements. It’s these that I found slightly at odds with the rest of the piece, and I was close enough to witness several collisions between dancers. They were styled out as if they were meant to happen, but I think maybe a little tighter work on these segments would have helped.

I got various messages from the performance: leadership; individual and group empowerment; tenderness and affection. During one segment, though, the mood changes, with 59 of the dancers turning against one sole dancer. Whilst intriguing and powerful, some context here would be helpful as, for me, it was the only negative message throughout the performance.

Deep beats throughout, mixed with the sound of the troupe’s bare feet on the stage floor, give the entire performance a somewhat tribal feel and I could sense the pulse of the music in my chest, which I personally enjoyed, but this may not be to everyone’s taste.

There is no clear narrative to the piece and whilst it is beautifully produced and performed, I feel that a lack of story linking the segments together, made things feel a little disjointed. What an opportunity though for the 60 dance school graduates to perform on a London stage in an incredible, immersive shared experience.

Choreography by Stephanie Lake
Composed by Robin Fox
Lighting Design by Bosco Shaw
Costume Design by Harriet Oxley
Production Manager: Emily O’Brien
Executive Producer: Beth Raywood Cross
Technical Manager: Robert Larsen

Colossus has completed its run at Southbank Centre