Transfiguration presents a trio of 10-minute dance films, focused on a series of defining moments into journeys of recovery from substance use. This will be followed by a Q&A session with Paul Bayes Kitcher (Co-founder Fallen Angels), Director Dan Thorburn, Leon Clowes (Performing Recovery) and Eve Steele (Playwright & Actor).
The films, I Fall, I Need and We Rise explore key moments in the life of a person who experiences addiction, exploring craving, relapse, and recovery using dance theatre, text and digital technology.
I Fall, the first of the trilogy films, explores the carnage and chaos of addiction. Focusing on the twisted love story between two recovering people – how they can’t live with or without each other – and their unbearable compulsion to use. But through despair, we see that recovery is a realistic life-style choice.
In I Need we follow the journey of an addict in early recovery. Meeting up with his mother, he asks, “I need you to trust me again.” But she can’t go through that anymore, when relapse might be just around the corner…
We Rise follows Fallen Angels dancers in recovery. Based on the real account and poetry of Frank, a late Fallen Angels participant, We Rise explores the challenges of recovery, facing adversity and how creativity can set you free.
The Transfiguration creative team was led by Fallen Angels Dance Theatre’s artistic director Paul Bayes Kitcher with writer Eve Steele and theatre director John Young in collaboration with film director and producer Dan Thorburn.
Professional dancers include Hannah Rudd, Jonathan Savage and Dominic Coffey, alongside Tom, Rachel and James who are in recovery.
Q&A Speaker Details
Paul Bayes Kitcher trained at the Royal Ballet School and Rambert. He danced for Scottish Ballet and Birmingham Royal in soloist and principal roles. In 2009, inspired by his journey of recovery Paul began teaching dance within drug & alcohol rehabilitation settings, whilst simultaneously developing his artistic practice. This led to him co-founding Fallen Angels Dance Theatre in 2011.
Dan Thorburn is an award-winning writer and director. Originally a painter, he studied at Central Saint Martin’s School of Art, London where he transitioned into film. He has directed a range of successful dramas, gaining recognition from festivals worldwide, was part of Screen Yorkshires inaugural FLEX program, is a member of BAFTA Connect, won the Sony Future Filmmaker Award 2023
Leon Clowes is an artist, researcher, writer and editorial board member for Performing Recovery Magazine. A scholarship-supported PhD student at London College of Music, he researches self-compassionate autoethnographic trauma-inspired performance practice.
Eve Steele is a writer and actor, often performing in and sometimes co-directing her own work. She runs Most Wanted film and theatre company with regular collaborator Ed Edwards. Eve is currently working on her 9th BBC radio drama commission
A Recoverist Month event that, through the arts, changes the conversation on substance use and recovery.
Recoverist = Recovery + Activist
Recoverist Month September 2024 is an initiative led by Portraits of Recovery: a pioneering, Manchester-based, visual arts charity.