Enter achilles review

i decided to write a review on one of dv8's most well known performances. this is what i thought.

Enter Achilles review
The idea behind enter Achilles was to explore male relationships. Its set mainly in a pub, a very typical place that you would expect men to be. Its starts of with a very ‘matey’ feeling between 8 men. They are drinking beer and acting in a way that society expects men to. Then one man walks into the bar and changes the music to something that we would associate with women. He begins to dance in way that doesn’t fit with the stereotype of real men. The rest of the piece explores how someone that doesn’t comply with the stereotype can be penalised. It also examines how men feel like they have to act a certain way and this can provoke insecurities as well as tension.

Enter Achilles is a very thought provoking piece with a lot of very shocking moments in it. The chorography is very spectacular and made so that the audience will instantly know what’s going on. The almost homely setting of a pub is something every audience member will be able to relate to, as well as the butch appearance of the eight men drinking beer. The interaction at the beginning is very matey between the men. With them all moving in the exact same way, representing how they feel they all have to be the same to be excepted in today’s world.

When the other man comes in and dances in a way we would associate with women. Its already clear in the audiences mind that he will not be excepted into the group of men. I think its quite shocking how everyone already knows he will be an outsider. It shows that our society is very strict in our views.

The fight scene has some very spectacular chorography in it. Lloyd Newson captures the sense of a fight perfectly however there is no punching or kicking like we would expect to see. There is a lot of contact and very creative movements. The whole group of men ganging up on just one is an injustice and the audience will automatically pity the man. However this is something we all witness in everyday life without really caring.

As the piece goes on two of the men from the group of eight also try to brake away from the stereotype by subtly flirting with each other. However they quickly stop and go back to acting how they think they have to.

I think enter Achilles is truly amazing. I really admire the genius in Lloyd Newsons chorography and this piece really does make you think about how we just accept that bad things will happen to people who are different. It also highlights the fact men feel they cant express their feelings. Its extremely powerful movements and shocking story line make it hard to watch in places but I highly doubt anyone will turn it off. It grips you from the start by using an easy to understand everyday situation and characters that anyone can relate to. The dancers themselves are extremely talented and they almost force you to watch them. They have an amazing amount of skill and technical ability
I would recommend watching enter Achilles more than once if you get the chance. It really is a very powerful piece.
A SHORT CLIMP FROM THE PIECE