MOTIONHOUSE TALK AND Q&A
Sunday 11th August 2024
Council Chambers, Newcastle Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QH
Motionhouse, the renowned UK-based dance theatre company, as they bring their critically acclaimed show "WILD" to NOVUM Festival. Known for their breathtaking blend of dance, acrobatics, and digital media, Motionhouse will transport you into a dynamic world where urban life and nature collide.
Join us for an opportunity to engage with the performers behind the performance. Join the Motionhouse team for an insightful talk and Q&A session, where you can learn more about their inspiration, creative process, and the themes explored in "WILD".
Olly Bell
Born in Leeds in the UK, Olly began his dance training at the Northern Ballet CAT scheme, later transferring to the CAT Scheme at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. He completed his BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and joined the EDGE Postgraduate Company in his final year. After graduating, he joined Rosie Kay Dance Company for the creation and UK Tour of 10 Soldiers and performed in a UK and USA Tour of 5 Soldiers. Olly has also performed the principal role of Jaschiu in the Royal Opera House production of Death in Venice. Since joining Motionhouse in 2020, Olly has performed in Captive, Happy Hour, HENGE, Knot, Nobody, Starchitects, Starchitects Save Santa!, WILD, Wondrous Stories and Motionhouse's recent TV appearances.
Photo credit : Dan Tucker
Llewelyn Brown
Llewelyn is from Wick, South Wales in the UK. He got into dancing through gymnastics and through a connection to a local theatre school, learning dance, singing and acting. He joined the National Dance Company of Wales Associates Programme at the age of 13, then moved on to Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, graduating in June 2021. Llewelyn joined Motionhouse in June 2021 and has performed in Captive, Gravity, Knot, Nobody, Starchitects, Starchitects Save Santa!, WILD, Wondrous Stories and Motionhouse's recent TV appearances.
Photo credit : Dan Tucker
Alex De La Bastide
Alex is originally from Northwich in Cheshire in the UK and started contemporary dance at the age of 14 at the Lowry CAT scheme. She then joined Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance when she was 17, graduating in June 2021. Alex joined Motionhouse in June 2021 and has performed in Captive, Gravity, HENGE, Knot, Nobody, Starchitects, Starchitects Save Santa!, WILD, Wondrous Stories and Motionhouse's recent TV appearances.
Photo credit : Dan Tucker
Daniel Massarella - Dancer and Artistic Director
Daniel is from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, in the UK. After 10 years as a Motionhouse performer, Daniel is now the company’s Assistant Director, supporting Artistic Director Kevin Finnan in the delivery of all aspects of our artistic programme. In this role, Daniel has been closely involved in the creation of Wondrous Stories, the opening show of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, the National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome event in Liverpool in 2023, our touring production for families, Starchitects, and our Christmas family production Starchitects Save Santa! After starting dancing aged 14 with Cheshire Youth Dance Company, Daniel graduated from Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2011, having been a member of Verve11, the school’s Post Graduate performance company. Before joining Motionhouse, Daniel worked with Earthfall, touring with the company’s award winning show At Swim Two Boys. Daniel joined Motionhouse in 2013 for the first American tour of Scattered. As a dancer with Motionhouse he performed in BLOCK, Broken, Captive, Cascade, Charge, Fragile, Knot, Lost, Lumen, Midwinter Magic, Nobody, Tigress, Traction, Underground, Watermusic, WILD, Wondrous Stories and Motionhouse's recent TV appearances.
Photo credit : Dan Tucker
Beth Pattison
Born in Durham in the UK, Beth was introduced to contemporary dance at the CAT Programme at Dance City, Newcastle, before studying for a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Beth performed alongside Punchdrunk as part of the everyBODY Project in Selfridges and was a part of the creative processes and performances of work by Stephanie Schober and Maciej Kuźmiński. Beth joined Motionhouse in 2017 as a Professional Placement Scheme Dancer through the postgraduate programme at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. In 2018, she joined Motionhouse as a full-time company member and has performed in BLOCK, Captive, Charge, Happy Hour, Lost, Lumen, Midwinter Magic, Nobody, Starchitects, Starchitects Save Santa!, WILD, Wondrous Stories and Motionhouse's recent TV appearances.
Photo credit : Dan Tucker
Free, pre-booking essential
11am - 11.45am
This is a licensed venue and any under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
No drinks are permitted inside the Council Chamber.
The venue and festival site are wheelchair and pushchair accessible.
There will be a break out / quiet space available.