Article Source: Lewys Holt
Last Updated: 9 November 2023 14:27
Combining contemporary dance with live karaoke, Empty Orchestra is a hilarious hour of karaoke classics, beautiful choreography and gloriously out of tune singing.
From dance artist Lewys Holt’s company perfectly serviceable, Empty Orchestra explores the vulnerability, power and uncomfortable feelings of cringe inherent to karaoke. Featuring Holt and Luke Divall and Inari Hulkkonen, each dancer takes their turn at the mic whilst the remaining two become backing dancers, lip-syncing and encouraging each other into the spotlight.
The show received critical acclaim in 2022 with two sell-out runs at The Place and Yorkshire Dance, securing Arts Council Funding for a UK tour this Autumn across Exeter, Bristol, Fife, Worcester, Inverclyde, Manchester, Cardiff, Nottingham, Greenock, Aberdeen, Wolverhampton and Derby. perfectly serviceable have also announced that all shows on the UK tour will be BSL interpreted.
Holt’s previous work includes major commissions, such as performances for the Arts Council Collection's 70th Anniversary Exhibition curated by Ryan Gander and the UK premiere of Laura Swanson’s exhibition Beneath the Mask. They have collaborated with prominent international artists including Tino Sehgal, Sally Marie, New Art Club, Rosemary Lee and Christopher Owen. They are also the co-curator of improvised performance night Roadhouse with their partner Eleanor Sikorski (Nora, Dancing Museums II).
Empty Orchestra was selected for The Place’s 2021 Choreodrome programme and is supported by Dance4 and Arts Council England.
Dancer and choreographer Lewys Holt said: “I'm interested in pop music and the way it instantly connects with people, distracts them, frees them and allows them to become more themselves, but also how it has shaped society to a degree. It has a brainwashing quality, along with its emotional liberation. What I want to do with this show is find ways of engaging with pop music in ways that are not pre-prescribed. How can we find the emotions in the margins of these songs? How can we sing between the notes to find a pleasure independent of the pleasure it tries to sell us? I think dance is the answer.
“I think audiences will enjoy the opportunity to witness a new way of dealing with these songs that they know so well. There's a real party vibe to the piece, but it's coupled with a sort of bleak, otherworldliness, which is equal parts disconcerting and intriguing. Plus - there's plenty of opportunities to sing along!”
Final tickets are on sale now via www.beaconartscentre.co.uk
The UK's biggest touring celebrity food & music festival celebrates its 20th year - announcing star-studded line-ups and exciting new features in Edinburgh and Glasgow!
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres is hosting a free Grow Your Own workshop this August, where attendees will learn top tips for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers at home.
READ MOREAcclaimed Scottish folk four-piece Gnoss are back with a brand-new single ‘Emily’ set for release on Friday 25th July!
READ MORETreasure Trove Scotland are inviting members of the public to bring their finds to be assessed as part of a family-friendly Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life.
READ MORERenfrew's Robertson Park will host Scotland's top piping talent once again as the Renfrew Pipe Band Competition returns to the town on Saturday 19th July.
READ MOREChildren attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs!
READ MOREThousands of people across Renfrewshire have benefitted from Winter Connections running for a third year.
READ MOREPubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs, including 7 in Scotland.
READ MOREThis summer, as school holidays get underway, families are invited to enjoy a day out at Scone Palace with their Kids Go Free promotion.
READ MOREThe inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials will take place from 21st–24th August 2025 in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.
READ MOREA magnificent collection of artworks has been donated to Renfrewshire's civic collection by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, in memory of her late husband, John Shaw.
READ MOREThe new free summer activities programme for Renfrewshire children, young people and families is now available.
READ MOREScotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow on Sunday 5th October and they want everyone to 'Be Your Greatest'.
READ MOREThousands turned out to enjoy a day of fantastic live entertainment at Paisley's annual Sma' Shot Day celebrations on Saturday!
READ MOREBTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MOREComedian, actor, singer and presenter is latest big name to announce date at venue.
READ MOREScotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MOREAhoy there mateys! The Pirates of Paisley is this year's must visit FREE summer brick adventure!
READ MOREMuch loved reading programme, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Renfrewshire, celebrated becoming permanent with bell chimes.
READ MOREThis summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MOREThousands turned out to celebrate summer at Barshaw Park on Saturday for Barshaw Gala Day.
READ MORESummerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MOREFancy grabbing a free reusable takeaway cup and then getting a discount on your next drink from some of our local cafes?
READ MORETwo major community sports projects in Renfrewshire are set to benefit from a significant funding boost.
READ MOREThe biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MORECheck out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MOREPupils from Auchenlodment Primary School in Johnstone gave their refurbished play park a big thumbs up after it underwent a major upgrade earlier this year.
READ MOREHistoric Environment Scotland is calling for people across the country to connect with heritage to boost their wellbeing as a part of a national campaign, Historic Places, Breathing Spaces.
READ MOREAfter their first event in March, Clash of the Clans, Clan Wrestling makes its return to Braehead Arena on Saturday 6th September for its second event!
READ MOREThe Armed Forces Day flag will be raised outside Renfrewshire House on Friday in a short service to mark Armed Forces Day.
READ MORE