Premiere 2012

A new duet by Javier de Frutos (15min)

Following his Evening Standard Theatre Award for The most incredible thing with the Pet Shop Boys choreographer Javier de Frutos returns to Candoco for the third time. Inspired by the poetry of Tennessee Williams and set to traditional Mexican Ranchera music and costumes his duet is a celebration of difference and rebellion: “I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees” (revolutionary Emiliano Zapata).

Javier says:

“This work, now my third over the last 10 years for this company, gives me an opportunity to come full circle in relation to my first foray for Candoco entitled then ”I hastened through my death scene to catch your last act” in which, inspired by the poetic perfumes of Tennessee Williams, I wanted to find a common ground for a company of true individuals. My feeling this time has not changed: We are here to observe, learn from and ultimately celebrate our differences.

My ultimate favourite Williams play is the seldom staged Camino Real, where unique iconic literary figures wait in limbo and in vain, outsiders waiting to get back inside and within those characters another sub culture of peasants, sweepers and street workers that thread the actions.

My focus is on these characters and on Williams collaboration with Anna Sokolov, the revolutionary American Choreographer.

Studies for C is set to traditional Mexican Ranchera songs and costumes that have writings of the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata: “I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees”

Production Credits

Choreographer: Javier de Frutos
Lighting & Design: Javier de Frutos
Lighting Technician: Andrej Gubanov
Music: Lila Downs
Yanahuari Nin, La Bamba, La Cucaracha from the album Una Sangre
Yunu Yucu Ninu and Pobre Changuita from the album La Sandunga

Thank you to Javier for donating Mexican masks.

Javier de Frutos

Javier de Frutos is an award winning director and choreographer. His work is in the repertoire of companies including Rambert Dance Company and The Royal Ballet among others. In 1999, his achievements were recognised in a South Bank Show special. In 2000 he became a fellow of The Arts Council of England, under which he conducted two years of research on the work of Tennessee Williams, culminating in a contemporary piece entitled Blue Roses which was performed at Sadler’s Wells. He choreographed Carousel for the Chichester Festival Theatre, the National Theatre’s production of Death and ther King’s Horseman and the acclaimed West End and touring production of Cabaret, for which he won the prestigious Olivier Award for ‘Best Theatre Choreographer’ in 2007. Javier’s film and TV credits include The Long Road to Mazatlan in collaboration with Issac Julien, which was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2001. Javier is also credited with the movement direction for Mika’s music video We Are Golden and more recently the HBO drama Game of Thrones.