The Georgia Straight wrote an article following the premiere of this show in Vancouver: "Kidd Pivot's 'Assembly Hall' is a mesmerizing rumination on purpose and belonging."
A highly anticipated new work by acclaimed choreographer Crystal Pite, following the massive success of Revisor and Betroffenheit. A brilliantly orchestrated, highly energetic and inventive hybrid of dance and theatre.
Hailed by the British newspaper The Guardian as “a 21st-century dance genius,” Crystal Pite is one of Canada’s most prominent choreographers. Assembly Hall, her new co-creation with playwright Jonathon Young for the eight wonderful performers of Kidd Pivot, springs from the fascination with story and the role of language as an animating force that fuels the company’s creative process. A group of medieval re-enactors have gathered in the local community hall for their annual general meeting. The event they are organizing has fallen on hard times, and unless something drastic happens, this venerable order will be facing dissolution. As the meeting progresses, the line between reality and re-enactment begins to blur, ancient forces are awoken, and it soon becomes clear that there is much more at stake than a mock medieval tournament. A breathtaking work, moving and inspiring.
Known around the world for their radical hybrids of dance and theatre, Kidd Pivot’s creations are assembled with wit and invention and marked by a strong theatrical sensibility. Led by internationally renowned Canadian choreographer and director Crystal Pite, the company is unflinching in the face of challenging and complex themes of trauma, addiction, conflict, consciousness, and mortality.
Produced by Kidd Pivot
Choreographed and Directed by Crystal Pite.
Written and Directed by Jonathon Young.
Composition and Sound Design Owen Belton, Alessandro Juliani and Meg Roe.
Scenic Design Jay Gower Taylor.
Costume Design Nancy Bryant.
Lighting Design Tom Visser.
Video Design Cybèle Young
Show Control and Sound Programmer Eric Chad.
Assistant to the Creators Eric Beauchesne.
Additional Music Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23, TH. 55 - I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito performed by Alice Sara Ott · Münchner Philharmoniker · Thomas Hengelbrock ℗ 2010 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin.
Performers Brandon Alley, Livona Ellis, Rakeem Hardy, Gregory Lau, Doug Letheren, Rena Narumi, Renée Sigouin, Lea Vedd.
Voice Director Meg Roe.
Voices Ryan Beil, Marci T. House, Alessandro Juliani, Meg Roe, Gabrielle Rose, Amanda Sum, Vincent Tong, Jonathon Young.
Production Manager / Technical Director Jeff Harrison.
Stage Manager Yvonne Yip.
Audio and Show Control Operators ilvs Strauss, Eric Chad.
Wardrobe Supervisor Donnie Tejani.
Set Construction Great Northern Way Scene Shop.
Scenic Artists Charlie Easton, Barry Kootchin, Sharon Sloan, Patrick Spavor.
Prop Builders Monica Emme, Jay Gower Taylor, Heather Young, Jen Hiebert
Aluminum Armour Rob Valentine & Valentine Armouries.
Cutter Janet Dundas.
Costume Assistants and Builders Alaia Hamer, Nicola Ryal, Alice Devonshire.
Stitchers Tracey Gauvin, Eloise Pons, Jayme Cline.
Dyer and Builder Tessa Armstrong.
Rehearsal Assistant Nasiv Kaur Sall.
French Translator Magali Stoll.
Surtitles Anika Vervecken.
Executive Producer Jim Smith.
Producer Francesca Piscopo.
World Premiere October 26, 2023 at Vancouver Playhouse, Vancouver, Canada
Kidd Pivot would like to thank Artemis Gordon, Barry Kootchin, Charlie Easton, Kevin Macdonald, Niko Taylor, Arts Umbrella, Ballet BC, The Dance Centre, Studio 58, Ostrom Climate, and the generous financial contributions from the Friends of Kidd Pivot.
Co-produced by Edinburgh International Festival (Edinburgh, UK), Sadler’s Wells (London, UK), Théâtre de la Ville (Paris, France), Centro Servizi Culturali Santa Chiara (Trento, Italy), National Arts Centre (Ottawa, Canada), Seattle Theatre Group (Seattle, US), Canadian Stage (Toronto, Canada), DanceHouse (Vancouver, Canada), Danse Danse (Montreal, Canada), Le Diamant (Quebec, Canada), Electric Company Theatre (Vancouver, Canada).
A special thanks to the Zita and Mark Bernstein Family Foundation, and Bonnie Mah for their generous support.
Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.
Kidd Pivot benefits from the support of BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of its projects.
Kidd Pivot gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of British Columbia, British Columbia Arts Council, City of Vancouver, and countless individual and business supporters.
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