RAW

RAW is set in 1990’s club land to a pounding techno soundtrack. We are welcomed ironically into the space in small groups by bouncers, forcing us to wait at intervals behind a rope as one might expect outside a club.
Our four characters enthusiastically queue up outside the club and once inside, strange rhythmic ritualistic dances are performed before a humorous Street Fighter/Matrix inspired catfight breaks out between the two females (flying high with the aid of harnesses) over a pole dancing male. Once this has subsided our attention is drawn to the other male clearly high- both literally and figuratively who is joined in his revelry by one of the females, both moving with awe and fluidity and skill in the rope web work at the front of the stage.
These are the high points as frankly the rest of the show consists mainly of bizarre unison dancing that lacks the balletic strength of line required to carry this off impressively and lots more leaping around on harnesses with little or no meaning once the themes of highs, lows, fights, come-downs and sex drives have been used up. The costumes are uninspiring, the soundtrack grates after a while and the performers themselves seem to perform frustratingly little Aerial to truly be entertaining, exciting to watch or indeed to show off their obvious talent. The decision to set four players (five including the DJ) in such a vast set-up, without any supporting cast, is a bad one and it’s a real shame as Aerial skills have the potential to lend themselves to the clubbing concept to outstanding effect. One for the more indulgent contemporary dance fan.

2/5

Bobbi Carmichael