Best Regards – Project Arts Centre – Dublin Dance Festival – Review

Best Regards – Marco D’Agostin – Italy
May 26th and 27th

At the start of the performance, Marco D’Agostin comes to the front of the stage, clutching a microphone in both hands. He introduces himself to the audience and starts to discuss the history of letter writing. He talks about the act of writing and the words of poets, writers, and thinkers on the subject, including Virginia Woolf. Towards the end of the speech, he focuses on a letter that choreographer and dancer Wendy Houston wrote to her friend and colleague Nigel Charnock after he had died. The letter expressed her love for Nigel and talked about how he lived his life. This letter forms the centrepiece of this production.

Marco D’Agostin is an Italian artist who has a number of productions under his belt despite his tender years. This is a solo performance that focuses on his memories of his former teacher Nigel Charnock. Marco is an award-winning performer, having previously won the UBU award as the best performer under 35.

The stage is largely empty other than a sophisticated LED light Curtain that hangs at the back of the stage. At the start of the performance the words ‘Dear N.’ remain in place on the screen, but later in the performance, it changes to show the words of the songs and spoken word pieces that Marco performs.

The performance is quite varied and humorous as Marco dances, skips, and prances around the stage, quoting elements of Wendy’s letter and also performing a song he has written for his friend. While the stage is empty at the start of the performance, he has a variety of toys hidden behind the screen, which he brings out during the production. Expect to see party poppers, champagne bottles, bubble guns, and a variety of other gimmicks. If you’re sitting in the front row, you’ll be picking pieces of confetti out of your clothes for hours after. This is a playful and whimsical production that is lighthearted and fun, despite its difficult subject matter.

Credits:
Created and performed by Marco D’Agostin
Sound & graphics LSKA
Texts Chiara Bersani, Marco D’Agostin, Azzurra D’Agostino, Wendy Houstoun
Lighting Giulia Pastore
Set building Simone Spangaro
Scientific advice The Nigel Charnock Archive, Roberto Casarotto
Dramaturgical advice Chiara Bersani, Claudio Cirri, Alessandro Sciarroni
Technical advice Eleonora Diana, Luca Poncetta, Andrea Sanson, Paola Villani
Movement coach Marta Ciappina
Technician Paolo Tizianel
Promotion Damien Modolo
Organisation & administration Eleonora Cavallo, Federica Giuliano
Producer VAN
Coproducers KLAP Maison pour la danse à Marseille; Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis; CCN2-Centre chorégraphique national de Grenoble; ERT – Emilia Romagna Fondazione