This review has been taken from my NSDF blog, written for the Peter de Haan Charitable Trust.
Guidelines for Measures to Cope by Electric Shadows of the University of Northampton is curious dance theatre piece which tackles the issue of BDD or Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a psychosomatic condition which causes extreme reactions toward the sufferer's own looks. It is tastefully executed with the performer's using their own bodies as the performance object, dressing and undressing with fervour. Neat technical devices are driving force in the production, clever projection onto a stage controlled blind to name but one, however these innovations do not make up for the gaps in the show and, whilst sympathetic to the subject and often entertained by the talented performers, the audience were never grabbed by the issue raised. Where Guidelines excels is as a piece of dance theatre investigating the practice of DV8's Monochrome Men or Forced Entertainment's Showtime and you can dare to venture that this was part of its conception. As issue based theatre goes there was not sufficient empathy in those watching to make it truly compelling but the three strong cast do themselves a great credit in this and as performers should go on to greater things.
Guidelines for Measures to Cope: ***
Image courtesy of Electric Shadows.
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