Change Tempo returns for 2023 to introduce London to two international artists whose transformational works blur the line between dance and visual art, challenging cultural biases.
SU PinWen’s performance art piece Girl’s Notes interrogates notions of gender, drawing inspiration from the traditional views set out in a Taiwanese text which directs girls in the ‘correct’ way to be a woman. Featuring live on-stage pianist LIN Mai-ke, this captivating work explores the intentions behind our everyday actions.
In Comme un symbole, French visual artist and choreographer Alexandre Fandard embodies the image of the marginalised youth, bursting onto the stage to portray a figure as despised as it is eroticised. The work subverts this stereotype in a way that is both deeply compelling and ultimately surprising.
About the artists +
SU PinWen
Credit Jyong-Jhe Huang
Su PinWen (He/him/They) is an artist and Artistic Director of Kua Bo Dance Theatre. He holds an MFA in Choreography at Taipei National University of the Arts and a bachelor’s in philosophy at Nan-hua University. His work challenges the heteronormative stereotypes revolving around notions of gender, feminism and nudity. Since 2013, Su has researched and practiced tactile culture. They take dance into conceptual art beyond the aesthetic genre.
Alexandre Fandarde
Fandard is a French visual artist and choreographer. After training at the International Dance Academy of Paris, he started performing works directed by Brett Bailey while working as a painter. He has performed with La Cie de Soi, in Heroes (Prélude) by Redouhanne El Meddeb, and in work by Olivier de Sagazan. He made his first solo, Some remains so, in 2017 while he was resident choreographer at Centquatre-Paris and was selected as laureate 2018 at FORT (Ile de France). In 2020, he created the duo Très loin, à l’horizon. Fandard is laureate of the European dance network Aerowaves with his new solo Comme un symbole.
Cast & Creative +
Girl's Notes
- SU Pin-Wen
Artist - Lin Mai-Ke
Pianist - Lin Ping-Hsin
Lighting Designer
Comme un symbole
- Alexandre Fandard
Choreography, direction & performance - Chloé Seiller
Lighting Design - Alexandre Fandard
Sound Design - Rodrigo de Sa
Sound Spatializer
Credits +
Girl’s Notes
Presented by Dance Umbrella in partnership with The Place. Supported by Ministry of Culture, Taiwan.
Comme un symbole
Presented by Dance Umbrella in partnership with The Place.
Le Centquatre-Paris | L’Étoile du nord, scène conventionnée | L’Espace 1789, scène conventionnée | CDCN Les Hivernales | Théâtre de Vanves – scène conventionnée | La Briqueterie – CDCN | Le 783 / Cie 29×27 | Festival Hip Opsession – Pick Up production | Festival 30/30 | Festival Fabbrica Europa | Karukera Ballet | La Commanderie-SQY | Collectif 12
Venue & Access +
Venue
Address
The Place
17 Duke’s Road
London WC1H 9PY
Public Transport
The nearest Tube stations to The Place are Euston (Victoria Line, Northern Line, London Overground and National Rail services) and King’s Cross St Pancras (Victoria Line, Northern Line (Bank branch), Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines, National Rail services and Eurostar).
The nearest bus stops to The Place are British Library (services 10, 205, 30, 390, 476, 59, 73, 91, N73, N91) and Upper Woburn Place (services 168, 59, 68, 91, N91).
The nearest Santander Cycle Hire docking stations are Endsleigh Gardens, Euston and Cartwright Gardens, Bloomsbury.
For journey planning and live travel updates, visit the Transport for London website.
Parking for bicycles, cars and motorcycles
There are bicycle racks outside The Place’s Flaxman Terrace entrance.
There are metered parking spaces in the roads around The Place (free after 6.30pm weekdays, 1.30pm Saturdays and on Sundays) and dedicated spaces for Blue Badge holders outside each entrance.
There is motorcycle parking on Duke’s Road.
Nearby car parks include Euston Station (Melton Street, off Euston Road, NW1 2EP) and St Pancras Station (Pancras Road NW1 2TB).
Access information
Access facilities in the theatre
Entry to the theatre is from the Duke’s Road entrance. In standard set up, the theatre has a range of seating options including four wheelchair spaces which are all are accessible via the lift. They also have step-free access both upstairs and at stage level. The theatre has a Sennheiser induction loop system with pre bookable head sets. These amplify the sound through ear pieces with volume control or neck bands, which transfer the amplified signal to your hearing aid when switched to the T position. If you have any other accessible seating requests please speak to a member of box office staff who will be able to advise you. You can also request a large print programme.
Seating: In the theatre, all seats have non-removeable armrests. The space between armrests is 43cm wide. Seat depth at its deepest is 46cm. At the narrowest point, legroom is 22cm, with better legroom on Row A and on aisle seats. We have four removeable access spaces for wheelchair users.
Assistant Dogs
Your assistant dog is welcome to join you in the auditorium; The Place will always let you know if they expect sounds or special effects that may cause your dog discomfort. If there are effects that may upset you dog or if they are not so keen on watching dance they may be left with staff in a quiet office.
Mobility Scooters
You are welcome to leave your scooter in the box office area for the duration of your visit as the lifts and wheelchair seating areas are not suitable for these vehicles.
Booking Tickets
Tickets can be booked in person, telephone (The Place are happy to receive and make calls via the text relay service) and through the website.
Wheelchair users can book themselves and a free companion in for performances by adding the promo code ACCESS to the bottom of the seating plan page and then selecting the wheelchair patron space and companion space marked with wheelchair and star icons.
Other Facilities
Accessible Toilets
There are accessible toilets on levels 1 and 4 of our theatre and can be reached via the lift.
Baby Changing Facilities
This can be found on Level 1 and Level 4, accessible via the lift.
Transcript / Translation for Girl's Notes
Click here to download
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