Swimming With My Mother

A 50-minute dance piece between mother (Madge) and son (David) gave us an extraordinary insight into their family life, all centred around their love of swimming. Madge began the story through a recorded voiceover as the pair played out their past on stage. The stage was minimal – a bench and a towel the only props to tell the story. Most effective was the lighting, which reflected the mood as the story unfolded. The music worked too, taking us from light humour to the darker, more dangerous aspects of the water. Seeing two fully clothed people mimic swimming on stage sounds bizarre, but it worked, and a surprise at the end showed just how accomplished this mother and son swim team are. Charming, funny and heartfelt, this was simple dance theatre effective in its form and finish. One for water babies everywhere.

Pavilion Theatre, Brighton Dome, 16 May 2012

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