Arts Writer
ADAGIO for a Hacked Life is the third and final instalment in the Growth trilogy – a collaboration between the Baxter Theatre Centre and Scenkonst Sörmland (Sweden). The show culminates with a short season at the Baxter Flipside from February 17 to 27 at 8pm, with matinees at 2pm.
The series highlights the impact of the global economic ‘monster’ on individuals. The project premiered in 2013 with I Hit the Ground Running(which focused on unemployed youth), followed by Struck Silent in 2014, which focused on senior citizens.
This latest offering explores the stress that comes with today’s technology and deadline-driven, information-overloaded and instant gratification culture, through research, dance and music.
Grant van Ster is the choreographer with composition by Jonny Axelsson (Sweden) and Nceba Gongxeka. The three dancers Shaun Oelf, Mishkaah Medell and Themba Mbuli are local, while the musicians Jonny Axelsson (percussion), Mattias Windemo (guitars) and Anette Kumlin (oboe) are from Sweden and Nceba Gongxeka (percussion) is from Cape Town.
Costume and set design is by Birrie le Roux and lighting design is by William Wenner (Sweden).
The global economy and its effects on the individual once again come under the spotlight in this contemporary dance and music piece that tackles the strains and pressures imposed on people in today’s society.
The original music and dance was developed and created based on the responses and outcomes from research which inspired the work. The research for this final production came out of workshops held with two focus groups – one group in Cape Town and another in Sweden.
People who are suffering from stress, burnout and chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as their healthcare practitioners, were invited to engage in discussions to form the basis for this latest work.
It looks at how human beings have become victims and are being sacrificed at the altar of economic growth, delivering what the system expects and demands. However, at what cost?
Is it at the risk of our own holistic existence as human beings? Family, relationships, physical and mental health, as well as personal well-being are all compromised to fulfil and meet the external expectations presented in a contemporary society.
“Our research processes throughout the project have shown us that there is a fundamental clash between the rhythm of human life and the rhythm of the system of economic growth,” explains Swedish producer Annette Taranto.
“With Growth we have tried to mirror this clash, however, remaining positive, we have always defended and cherished well-being and the triumph of human life over the monstrous system,” Taranto added.
“With this final performance we want to inspire and protect that rhythm from what threatens it. We hope that the performance will stay true to the experiences shared with us by the generous persons who contributed to this and all the preceding processes.”
The Baxter run will be followed by a three-week tour of Sweden.
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