A beautifully choreographed show with an outstanding score, supported by a live brass band. Visually rich with a touching narrative but sometimes hard to follow. Rating
Good
The story of PIA follows one woman through three stages of her life, as she dreams of touching the stars whilst navigating the Earthly challenges she encounters. This piece investigates the themes of memory, imagination and humanity through a blend of live music and dance, set to Hannah Peel’s critically acclaimed album Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeiaand supported by the 17-piece Zero One Brass band. Adopting a non-linear narrative style, we are transported from the mining town of Barnsley to the particle-dust waves of outer space via the inner workings of Pia’s fascinating mind.
Directed and choreographed by Katya Bourvis, in collaboration with dramaturg and dance artist Tala Lee-Turton, PIA keeps a steady pace throughout. Weaving through various places and events, the performance never loses momentum, even in its calmer moments. We are immediately brought into Pia’s expansive and ethereal world and carried on a cinematic journey. The primary themes of memory and imagination are presented throughout, skilfully woven with Peel’s music and Jackie Shemesh’s colourfully fragmented lighting design.
The story is bittersweet, however the non-linear design means the narrative becomes tangled up, making it hard to distinguish who we are with in the moment or where we are. The older iterations of Pia seem to melt into each other while the younger Pia has a more structured arc. It is alluded to that Pia’s intensifying fantasies of space are the result of possible dementia, and although this vagueness is likely a creative choice, the idea becomes slightly diluted in amongst the thematic and performative elements. Certain motifs, such as the cardboard spacesuit, are intriguing but underused and could be put to greater effect to serve the visual story.
Bourvis’ choreography is beautiful. Visually rich and full of character, there is something interesting happening on every inch of the stage. The physical and emotional interactions between characters appear deeply felt, and the movement design takes us from Earth to space with dreamlike fluency. However, the shallow rake of the Milton Court Concert Hall means that some of the floor-level choreography is lost to audience members sitting further back.
Peel’s original score Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeia has been slightly adapted for PIA, but in doing so has lost none of its grandeur. The music captures the essence of space masterfully; expansive in its scope with myriad intricacies. In performance, though, the score is often drowned out by the brass section. In a space built for good acoustics, the questionable decision to have a 17-piece brass section play to mics means the band is often deafeningly loud, drowning out the otherwise effervescent score.
The dance ensemble does a wonderful job of portraying both the internal and external worlds of PIA. The three iterations, danced by Sonia Marie Dvorak, Sirena Tocco and Janet Amsden, are clear and colourful: young Pia is sprightly and light-footed, middle-aged Pia is confident and grounded, and older Pia is playful and tender. Together they create a picture of a woman whose spirit soars above the earthly plane. The supporting dance corps physically narrate the story with grace, emotion and humour, really adding to the human element of the narrative.
Despite some issues with the narrative and technical aspects of the musical design, PIA is an excellent piece of dance theatre. Visually stunning, with a magnificent score and a cinematic scope, it tells the story of a woman whose dreams and memories allow her to dance within the ether and bring us along for the journey. The show is highly recommended for fans of Peel’s music, and those who enjoy inventive physical storytelling.
Directed and choreographed by Katya Bourvis
Creative producing by Tala Lee-Turton
Original score by Hannah Peel
Dramaturgy by Tala Lee-Turton
Music direction by Richard Ward
Lighting design by Jackie Shemesh
Costume design by Katherine Watt
Sound design by Andrew Morgan
PIA has finished its run at the Milton Court Concert Hall, Barbican.
