Woodhill - Summerhall, 2–28 August
Taking first-hand experiences of three families whose loved ones took their own lives at HMP Woodhill, verbatim theatre company LUNG (Trojan Horse, Who Cares, E15) examines the state of UK prisons.
Woodhill is a dance theatre piece that uses verbatim text from the family members read by actors over choreography to question the negligence and injustice within the country's prison system.
As the number of people going into prisons rises and staff numbers are being cut, the show examines the value we place on the lives of those who have been incarcerated, focusing on three families demanding to know how and why their loved ones died.
This is the first dance production from LUNG, with choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento (original London cast of Hamilton).
A Couple of Humans - part of From Start to Finnish in association with Tsuumi Dance Theatre, 2–20 August
Tackling the challenges of social interaction in a world dominated by digital communication, this piece of visual dance theatre blends choreography, sound design and live projection to comment on how technology has changed relationships over the last three years.
Honing in on themes of encounter, communication and interaction, real life couple Riikka and Antti Puumalainen combine contemporary choreography and sound design that utilises human voice, everyday household sounds and both musical and abstract elements.
Insomniac's Fable - From Start to Finnish in association with Agit-Cirk, 2-27 August
Created by ballet dancer Emma Lister and contemporary circus artist Sakari Männistö, Insomniac’s Fable is a surreal dreamscape with choreography by Ludovic Ondiviela and images created by Angela Annesley from her woodcuts.
Subverting the 'boy meets dream girl' narrative, it asks what would happen if this dream girl grabbed hold of the story.
Performed by Sakari with Scottish dancer Erin O’Toole, it combines ballet, juggling and psychedelic design to create a Hitchcockian love story.