Sydney Reviews

Photos - Gabriele Zucca

It’s not every day you get handed a set of earplugs as you walk into the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House. When you learn the show, Political Mother by Hofesh Shechter, contains live music from an eight piece metal band, you understand why.

Hofesh Shechter is one of the hottest modern dance choreographers and composers in the UK. He was born in Israel and studied dance and percussion there. He arrived in the UK in 2002 and has been incorporating percussive elements into his choreographed pieces. Political Mother was a commissioned piece that premiered at the Brighton Festival in May this year. The Sydney show features performers from the newly formed Hofesh Shechter Company.

In Political Mother, the dancers appear to be at the mercy of a dictator. He stands above them, sometimes barking out Hitler style orders and at other times writhing and screaming ala the torchured moves of Faith No More’s lead singer Mike Paton.

This is an impressive show because of its tightness and ability to take you on a journey of exhilaration, fear and despair. The music and dance moves are quick and precise for the first half, mimicking a well oiled political regime. Things then mellow into a slow drift for a while as we contemplate the consequences of this oppressive regime. The tempo of the music and movement lifts back up a notch as the oppressed fight back.

The score is a mixture of pre-recorded music, interjected by bursts of live pounding military style percussion and coupled with guitarists playing a looped metal groove. The live score lifts the intensity of the work two-fold and you can’t help doing a little head banging. Sadly, mosh pits are out of the question at the Opera House.

Lighting is also a feature. Only the relevant sections are lit so at no time do we see the whole stage. Dancers are lit up then blackened as we move on to the drummers behind them, then flash up to the guitarists who are separated by the Hitler-Paton hybrid in the middle.

It is interesting to compare Political Mother to Mortal Engine, another movement piece held at the Sydney Theatre in May. Mortal Engine was essentially a light show that impressed with its eye-popping sense of spectical. Political Mother, on the other hand, makes an effort to tell a story and play with the audiences’ emotions. Both should be commended for their efforts to create a truly multi-media experience.

Political Mother is recommended for those who like their dance with an exhilarating heavy metal groove.


Hofesh Shechter
Political Mother

Venue: Drama Theatre
Dates: 1 - 4 July 2010
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes (no interval)
Bookings: 02 9250 7777