Lest We Forget

As we approach the centenary of the outbreak of WWI there has been an influx of documentaries, exhibitions, shows and processions to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the Great War. Over the next few months the Imperial War Museum North will be opening its exhibit From Street to Trench, which explores the regional effects of war; Paul Nash’s war drawings will be displayed at the Tate; a procession of giant marionettes will march through the city of Liverpool and soldier’s diaries will be made available online. The English National Ballet has also joined the commemorations with their new show Lest We Forget.

Opening on April 2^nd at the Barbican (London) Lest We Forget will run until April 12^th. It features the choreography of Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett, all of whom are making their debut with the English National Ballet, and marks the beginning of artistic director Tamara Rojo’s attempt to revitalise the ballet’s image. The first movement, No Man’s Land choreographed by Liam Scarlett and danced to Liszt explores the relationship between soldiers and the women the left behind. The music and choreograph have been selected to emanate loss and longing. The Second Breath choreographed by Maliphant is danced by Alina Cojocaru, Junor Souza, Tamarin Scott and Nathan Young. This movement focuses on the men’s experience of the front and their sacrifice.

The third movement, Dust, choreographed by Khan and danced to Jocelyn Pook’s new score, examines the impact of the war on women portraying the way in which they dealt with their husbands, sons, fathers etc., leaving and how they were empowered by wartime work. The production also includes a performance of George Williamson’s Firebird. The pointe shoes are primed and ready to remember the sacrifices of World War One. Indeed this spectacular and thought-provoking ballet contributes to the wonderful cultural productions that will be on show over the next four years.