“This is the kind of work that needs to be seen”
Contemporary dance and physical theatre collective POCKETART’s latest work Fairy Tales, featuring eight female dancers and two musicians, comes to the UK for the first time.
Exploring the intersection of femininity, identity and self-discovery, Fairy Tales aims to connect us to our past by revisiting childhood experiences. By taking on different roles from fairy tales or every day real-life figures, the dancers envision new fantasies that reimagine how we see our happy endings.
POCKETART’s work is characterised by tackling topics that go beyond the personal experience of the individual, touching on global societal issues. With striking visuals, melodic sound and virtuosic dance performance, Fairy Tales invites us to playfully reconsider our own identities.
Gallery
Credit Vojtěch Brtnický
About POCKETART
Credit Jakub Urban
POCKETART collective, led by choreographers Johana Pocková (pictured left) and Sabina Bocková (pictured right), is an acclaimed international team in contemporary dance and physical theatre. They collaborate across disciplines, integrating dance, music, scenography, fine arts, and light design. Their work, featured in Aerowaves and European projects like Shape it! and Big Pulse Dance Alliance, addresses societal issues such as media manipulation, environmental threats, and corporate culture stress. Each piece explores unique physical expressions, delving into themes like individuality in competitive environments. With a focus on visual purity and original music, their performances aim to evoke spiritual reflection, engaging audiences with profound social commentary.
Cast & Creative +
- POCKETART collective / Sabina Bočková & Johana Pocková
Author - Sabina Bočková & Johana Pocková
Choreography & Direction - Aneta Bočková, Jitka Čechová, Michaela Dzurovčínová, Karolina Graca, Tereza Holubová, Tereza Krejčová, Eva Mora González, Monika Szpunar
Creation & Performance - Lukáš Palán, Sára Vondrášková Dramaturgy Viktor Černický
Live music - Viktor Černický
Dramaturgy - Peter Šavel
Choreographic coaching - Vendula Tomšů
Set design & Costumes - Eliška Kociánová
Light design - Jan Tomšů
Technical support - David Ostružár
Production Manager 2023 - Nela Frauenbergová
Tour / Production Manager - Anna Gazdíková
Production Assistant - Pavel Holomek
Graphic design - Vojtěch Brtnický, Jakub Urban
Photography - Dominik Žižka
Trailer - POCKETART, z.s.
Producer
Credits +
Presented by Dance Umbrella and The Place
Supported by the Czech Centre London
Co-producers: Sísmograf Festival (Spain) / Big Pulse Dance Alliance, TANEC PRAHA International Dance Festival (Czech Republic)
Co-production partners: Julidans (Netherlands) / CODA Oslo International Dance Festival
With support of The Ministry of Culture of Czech Republic, The National Recovery Plan, Next Generation EU, Capital city Prague, State Fund of Culture, Tanec Praha z.ú. / PONEC – dance venue, SE.S.TA. – center for choreographic development – associated artist Johana Pocková, REZI.DANCE Komařice
Special thanks to Yvona Kreuzmannová and Markéta Perroud
The project was implemented with the financial participation of the EU through the National Recovery Plan and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
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.
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