ABOUT
"A vibrant young company commited to it's teachings and it's art. Their energy and tenacity has no bounds"
- Paula Mor BA (Hons), PGCE, Ma in Theatre and Applied Drama
"The ability to shock, to awe, to grip, to entice, to make us laugh, to make us cry. What more could you ask for in a company"
- Lucy Glover, Partnership Coordinator of IdeasTap
THE COLLECTIVE//
The work our collective makes tries to explore what theatre and performance can mean in the now and in contemporary contexts. The collective is interested in creating work which explores interdisciplinary practice, using these performance tools to create a space which opens up to be questioned by the audience. We are interested in performance which is generates discussion but isn't afraid to entertain.
The collective’s work is direct and intimate with the audience, but maintaining a very playful approach. Our audiences are voyeurs in the world we create; creating a space which is open to live questioning and communal exploration.
The collective began as Limits Dance Company in 2011 along with Tara Pender. Based in Liverpool, the company developed dance theatre and physical theatre pieces based on the initial teachings of Latin and ballroom dance. As the company developed, we began to branch into further interdisciplinary practices; exploring intermedia performance, visual theatre and text. The company gained their first success with 'Disco Bloodbath' a dance theatre adaptation of the infamous story of Michael Alig, James St James and the late 80s New York Club Kid Culture.
Today, the collective develops solo work and collaborations with artists based in Yorkshire and the North. The Collective also works in theatre and education developing workshops based around the current work, but also on improvisation techniques, creation techniques and developing self awareness and attention as a performer. Theatre Collective is also proud to have worked with both Sheffield City council and Leeds City Council in youth outreach projects and the LGBT community. We have shown work in theatres, galleries, shopping centres, office buildings, busy town centres and bars. Since 2012 the company has shown work at festivals and venues across the UK and Ireland.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH//
The collective offers a programme of post-show discussions, talks, lectures and workshops around current work or past work as a focus. Our education programme is split between age ranges; our GCSE & A Level programme focuses around the creation process. Giving students the tools when starting a creation process, improvisation methods and techniques which can be put to use whether with drama and theatre studies or dance and movement studies. We blend together a variety of teaching methods from Suzuki and Butoh methods, Anne Bogart's Viewpoints and other applied theatre techniques. Our undergraduate programme is preferred to be a daylong session and designed in discussion with the institute or group concerned.
Limits Theatre Collective is also proud to have worked with both Sheffield City council and Leeds City Council in youth outreach projects and the LGBT community. Our youth outreach programmes have helped both gifted and talented and children at the risk of exclusion get involved in completing their bronze arts award scheme with us.
Recent projects have been Leeds Beckett University, Bath Spa University, University of Northampton, Coleg Ceredigion, Arts University Bournemouth and Wales Trinity St. David's.
"Fantastic day and evening lead by Liam Gordon of Limits Theatre Collective with his new performance piece 'I Hope You're Sitting Comfortably'. A deep insight into the hidden paradoxes of our sometimes submissed psyche, highlighted unknowingly and reawakened. A fantastic addition to our undergraduates critical contexts assignment, thank you again Liam."
- Jonny Hoskins, Senior Lecturer in Acting, Arts University Bournemouth
CHARITY//
The collective is proud to work as a charitable company, working to help raise awareness and help gain money for worthwhile courses. Over the past year, we have worked closely with The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, performing in numerous events such as 'The Liverpool Dance-A-Thon' and 'Strictly Ballroom', to help raise money through sponsorship and brining in donating audience members to help build a wider understanding of the power of charity and all the great work The Roy Castle Foundation does. We are also pleased to represent Macmillan Cancer Trust and our involvement with youth charity events.
For information about the foundation, please visit their website: www.roycastle.org