Exeter students perform in Lord of the Flies
Two talented student-dancers from Exeter, James Leo and Matthew Hartley, have struck gold: landing themselves in renowned choreographer, Mathew Bourne's stage adaption of Lord of the Flies - which showed at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth from the 30th of April to the 4th of May.
The boys were picked out of six hundred local dancers from across the South West, who fought it out to gain one of the twenty places available in the highly acclaimed production.
The classic story nods to an alternative rhythm in Bourne's revival, with the action taking place in a deserted theatre, instead of a deserted island. A group of schoolboys find themselves abandoned and start playing by their own rules, making their own civilisation which spirals out of control into savagery.
A vibrant synergy that is fresh and wildly captivating, Exeter's James Leo and Matthew Hartley, who attend the Richard Dale theatre school in Exeter, were buzzing when we caught up with them. Chatting to us about their whirl-wind experience, which has seen their day to day routine go from college lessons with an ounce of dance thrown in to eight hour days of intense, foot-fuelled discipline, Matthew told us "I couldn't believe I was actually in it. Since I started dancing when I was seven I've always wanted to be in one of Matthew Bourne's productions. And now I've been in one and I'm not even eighteen! It's made me realise I don't want to do anything else."
James also expressed what a great experience it has been, but commented on the challenges too, "The hours are the biggest thing. I only started dancing seven months ago, the physical challenge is tough but I love it".
Portrayed through visceral dancing, (choreographed by Olivier nominated Scott Ambler), the raw yield of emotion was a challenge to shake off after a performance, "It makes you change into a different person - I come off stage wanting to kill someone!" Matthew told us. When asked how they prepare to be in the mindset, James joked that doing a few press-ups gets the blood flowing, but remembering to focus on his face, as well as his feet is essential: "You've got to employ what you're meant to be showing in your dancing through your expression too, people kept saying to me, Jamie, use your face."
To Matthew, showing emotion through dancing is what inspires him, "It can take you to a different place, you can portray a story through movement and move people without talking. You can get out everything you are going through when you dance and just relax. On our first show I had goose bumps."
Matthew Bourne's New Adventures project gives a spectacular, dance-theatre version of the classic William Golding novel, blending the talents of top-notch professional dancers with local lads, who relished in the industry advice, "They're such a great insight! They treat you as equals and they're such nice guys.", James told me.
Being involved in the production has made both Matthew and James determined to carve a career in their passion, with sights set on London and American dance schools after they finish their studies at Exeter College.
Bourne's aim of the Lord of the Flies production is to make dance more accessible and reach out to young men in particular, closing the curtain on the stigma which is sometimes attached to their participation in dance. Hearing James and Matthew talk with elation about the rare opportunity the Lord of the Flies production gave them and the experience they have taken away, it seems that Bourne's endeavour is pirouetting towards stellar success.
