HIMHERANDIT Productions (DK)
Shroud
PREMIERE: The hidden symbolism of death is transformed into a poetic language where white shrouds embrace lifeless bodies and curtains hide coffins in chapels. SHROUD is the culmination of the trilogy that looks death, grief and loss directly in the eye. The first two parts were the acclaimed performances MY UNDYING LOVE and CARCASS.
SHROUD is dedicated to uncovering and understanding the deeper meanings and symbols associated with death and grief, turning it into a poetic language. SHROUD is the culmination of the trilogy that looks death, grief and loss directly in the eye. The first two parts were the acclaimed performances MY UNDYING LOVE and CARCASS.
SHROUD delves into the underlying themes and images associated with death that manifest in our subconscious and dreams when we grieve. For example, symbols that often appear in dreams after a loss include repetitions of the moment of loss, curtains, shades of gray, ghosts, shrouded figures, white fog, skulls, crows and gravestones.
This transforms the performance into a poetic language that reveals the hidden landscapes of grief that lie hidden in our subconscious.
“SHROUD” is the third part of the trilogy about death that HIMHERANDIT Productions’ artistic director Andreas Constantinou started with “MY UNDYING LOVE” and continued with “CARCASS”. With these two performances, he addressed a topic we all have to deal with, but maybe don’t. The audience reactions to both were unmistakable: deeply affected and a lot to talk about afterwards.
“SHROUD” draws inspiration from the veils that shroud grief, the white robes that embrace lifeless bodies and the curtains that hide coffins in crematoriums and funeral homes. The performance creates a fascinating odyssey where the boundaries between life, death and the human psyche are artistically explored, inviting the audience to confront their own hidden fears and emotions in a thought-provoking and evocative performance.
“MY UNDYING LOVE” was nominated for the Reumert Prize Special Award in 2022 and won the award for Performance of the Year at the Performing Arts Awards 2021.
Andreas Constantinou about the trilogy
In relation to the “CARCASS” (in Danish):
På fem år mistede Andreas en hel generation i familien: Nu vil han vise os, at livet er ”fucking fantastisk” med ny forestilling
(Århus Stiftstidende)
In relation to “MY UNDYING LOVE” (in English):
Audience reactions to "MY UNDYING LOVE" and "CARCASS"
Audience reactions (in English) to the first part of the trilogy “MY UNDYING LOVE”:
Audience reactions (in Danish) to the second part of the trilogy “CARCASS”:
Reviewers on "MY UNDYING LOVE" and "CARCASS"
Reviewers on the first part of the trilogy “MY UNDYING LOVE””:
★★★★★★
‘There is a very intimate and strong atmosphere throughout the performance. The work itself is beautiful in its design, different in its approach, aesthetic in its sensitivity and heartfelt in its humanity. The installation as a whole is both heartfelt and believable and I give the performance my warmest recommendations.”
– Kulturnyt (read the full review in Danish)
Reviewers on “CARCASS”:
”I sit with a pounding heart in the audience rows and let myself be absorbed by a different and brave dance drama. (…) The performance ‘Carcass’ is a poetic gem of small subtle moments that connect to the last breath.”
– Kulturnyt (read the full review in Danish)
”I was spellbound from start to finish. (…) Life and death belong together, and this very realization the dancers embody in a fascinating way in a poetic, humorous and absurd dance with death.”
– Delfinen, Aarhus Universitet (read the full review in Danish)
”They dance our fear of death and remind us to live life while we have it. They break with death and master the art of throwing limp bodies and 100 ways to move them. They also speak directly to the audience and have a hilarious competition for the best death. The atmosphere becomes so good that you come to care for it – death.”
– Lokalavisen Aarhus★★★
“Choreographer Andreas Constantinous captures many of these moments in life with an open-minded sincerity that, like life, both appeals and repels us. But it’s a performance that wants something from us, and with its vital team of international dancers, it makes an impression. (…) Aris Papdopoulos, Theo Marion, Elise Ludinard, Paola Drera, Heli Pippingskold and last but not least William Cardoso demand our attention and get it. And we take the message home with us: Remember to live your life. We may end up as carcasses soon enough.”
– CPHculture
HIMHERANDIT Productions was founded in 2003 by British-born artist Andreas Constantinou and has been based in Aarhus since 2009. In 2012, the company established a collaboration with Bora Bora, who co-produces the innovative and bold performances that range from modern dance, physical theater to “live art” performances. HIMHERANDIT Productions is a house company at Bora Bora.
HIMHERANDIT Productions is a well-reputed company that both the press, the audience and theaters nationally and internationally keep an eye on. With a reputation for being “The cutting edge queer performance company in Aarhus”, they have attracted the attention of several European theaters and festivals that have shown their performances around the world. In both 2015 and 2016, the company’s performances were chosen by the European network of dance theatres, Aerowaves, to be among the 20 most exciting new performances in Europe.
The company aims to create space for the marginalized, despised, diverse and queer, bringing important topics such as gender, sexuality and identity into dialogue. They do this both through performances, art installations, workshops, educational programs, research laboratories and artist lectures to promote social change through art.
The company has been behind performances such as “My Undying Love”, “Champions”, “Mass Effect”, “WOMAN & WoMAN”, “GARDEN”, ”The WOMANhouse”, “ReDoing GENDER” and “The MANhouse” as well as a number of others. Not least, HIMHERANDIT Productions also organized The GENDERhouse Festival in Aarhus in 2018. The company has been nominated for four Reumert awards, most recently for “My Undying Love” in 2022, while the festival and Andreas Constantinou received the Aarhus Performing Arts Award ‘Applause of the Year’ in 2018.
Visit www.himherandit.com for more information, videos and tour schedule of upcoming performances.
