Lived Fiction at Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay

“There are certain works that permanently alter one’s perception of the world; Lived Fiction is one such creation.”

– A Young(ish) Perspective

“Lived Fiction is full of wit, sophistication and spellbinding movement. Over and over again, its intensity and invention take you by surprise.”

– The Observer

“As the performance finishes, I feel I have experienced something with everyone here. For the first time, I’ve been given my window into dance.”

– Caroline Butterwick for The Guardian. Caroline Butterwick is a freelance journalist who is visually impaired.

Lived Fiction | Putting access and inclusion at the heart of its work

For two decades, the UK’s Stopgap Dance Company has been an exemplar of diversity and inclusion on stage, using dance as a movement for change. As a global leader of inclusive dance, Stopgap strives to not only showcase Disabled talent, but also enable performances to be accessible to as many and diverse audiences as possible. With this in mind, Stopgap presents Lived Fiction, a performance with the potential to shape the future of experiencing contemporary dance from multiple perspectives.

A manifestation of Stopgap’s 20 year history, Lived Fiction is an atmospheric, multisensory work that blends sensual choreography with innovative sound and visual design with accessibility features creatively weaved in. This includes evocative audio description, as well as projection art and audio captioning—a groundbreaking production where access features for Deaf or hard of hearing, blind or low vision, Disabled and neurodivergent audiences have been intricately intertwined throughout the performance.

Featuring seven performers with and without disabilities, the production spotlights each performer’s experiences and stories through movement and spoken word. Across two acts, solo, duet and group performances unfold, reflecting each individual’s relationship with dance and movement, their lived realities and with one another. Earnest and contemplative with elements of playfulness, this dance work resonates in its compassion for the human condition, empowering audiences to experience dance and life itself, through a myriad of different perspectives.

Lived Fiction invites you to come participate in this microcosm of an inclusive world, where everyone can revel in the joy of a shared future that is rich with the enterprise, potential and the power of diversity.