Inspired by Grayson Perry's tapestries, Taste asks what’s behind our choices? What defines our identity? Do we really fall into “social tribes” and if so, how far up the social ladder is our tribe? Can we climb higher?
“I wanted to make a show that would explore what we mean by taste and class,” said Cscape’s Artistic Director Sally Knight. “Grayson Perry’s tapestries and the accompanying TV series around social class were a huge inspiration for me and I thought it would be really interesting to create a piece of work that gets audiences talking and thinking about their own tastes.
"We are collaborating with theatre director Simon Harvey (o-region, Kneehigh) and writer Murray Lachlan Young (BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4), both of whom use humour and wit to brilliant effect. We are really excited to also be working with choreographer Neil Paris (Fabulous Beast) and composer Nathaniel Reed, who I have admired the work of for many years. We’ve got a really exciting team and I can’t wait to get into the rehearsal room!”
Taste is part of Pavilion Dance South West’s Strategic Touring Funded Project Shift & Share, which has been designed with partner venues in the south west to bring dance to more audiences in the region.
Since 2003, Cscape has created 23 performances, including 6 works for small-scale touring: Below, Guilty Fingers, Blonde, Enjoy Your Stay, When the shops shut and a work for children, If the Shoe Fits.
Their tours have reached audiences across the UK and when combined they have been seen by over 60,000 people. In 2013, Cscape’s outdoor promenade The Venus Flower was performed at Trebah Gardens and National Trust property Cotehele, incorporating a cast of professional dancers with a company of 140 people, was presented as part of the Salt Festival of landscape dance.
Taste is showing at Barbican Theatre (Castle St, Plymouth) on Friday 2 October at 7:30PM. The tour continues throughout the south west during October and November, with spring dates also booked.