UK Premiere of INK Comes to Sadler's Wells Theatre

Greek director, choreographer, and visual artist Dimitris Papaioannou returns to Sadler’s Wells Theatre with the UK premiere of INK from Wednesday 28 February - Saturday 2 March 2024. Following sold-out and Olivier-nominated productions of The Great Tamer and Transverse Orientation at Sadler’s Wells in 2019 and 2022 respectively, Papaioannou continues his exploration of hyper-visual dance theatre in INK.

A true master of visual spectacle, Papaioannou creates a succession of dream images at breakneck speed. INK takes place in an enigmatic water world in which a duet transforms into a duel under the influence of mythical primal forces. In a battle between old and young, father and son, civilisation and wasteland, stewardship and inheritance, eroticism and torture, Papaioannou is joined on stage by dancer and collaborator Šuka Horn. Probing the limits of reality through the filters of science fiction and horror, INK features hundreds of litres of water, a golden field of wheat and an octopus.

In 2018, Papaioannou was the first choreographer to create a new evening-length work for Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch since Bausch’s death in 2009. He also conceived and directed the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. With a background rooted in painting and visual art, Papaioannou’s productions blur theatre, experimental choreography and live performance.

Ahead of INK’s UK premiere at Sadler’s Wells, Dimitris Papaioannou said “I’m excited to return to Sadler's Wells for the fourth time. INK is a very personal work that was initially conceived as a visual and sound installation but evolved into a full show. INK is an unexpected sequel to Primal Matter – my debut in London back in 2016 – and it brings me back on stage for one last time.”

Alistair Spalding, Sadler’s Wells Artistic Director and Chief Executive said “Sadler’s Wells has a proud history of working with Dimitris Papaioannou. Following his debut performance at Sadler's Wells in 2017 with The Great Tamer, Dimitris became the first guest choreographer to create new work for Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch with Since She in 2019 and returned with Transverse Orientation in 2022. We’re delighted to continue our relationship with this co-production of INK.”

INK is created by Dimitris Papaioannou, with music by Kornilios Selamsis, sound design by David Blouin, and lighting design by Lucien Laborderie and Stephanos Droussiotis.

No animals were harmed in the creation of this performance. 
This performance contains full nudity and scenes of a disturbing nature. 

Co-produced by Sadler's Wells

The first version of INK was commissioned and co-produced by Torinodanza Festival, Teatro Stabile di Torino – Teatro Nazionale + Fondazione and Teatri and Festival Aperto – Reggio Emilia in 2020.

The final version of the work and the international tour is co-produced by Biennale de la Danse de Lyon 2023, Sadler’s Wells London, MEGARON – THE ATHENS CONCERT HALL and supported by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports in 2023.
 

BSL Interpreted Post Show Talk with Dimitris Papaioannou and Alistair Spalding on Friday 1 March

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