JOHN- DV8: Review

Lloyd Newson's DV8 physical theatre play, JOHN, showing at the National Theatre from the 30th October 2014 to the 13th January 2015, follows the incredible life of one man, John. Based on interviews from the drug use helpline, Frank, Lloyd Newson, DV8's Artistic Director, combined movement and verbatim spoken work to create a moving theatrical experience.The play follows themes of home abuse, compulsion, addiction, loneliness, HIV and sexuality. With all of this very deep and personal subject matter, you'd expect a rather bleak, depressing experience. However Newson's innovative take on the material, allowed you the emotion, yet, very cleverly, offered moments of much needed comic relief.

I asked a friend, who I went to see the play with, what he thought of it:

"It was a really great example of narrative interpretation. The minimalistic set complimented the abstract movements to really bring to life the humorous, yet dark life of John. I liked the matter of fact style depiction of Johns struggle with the stigma surrounding homosexuality, whilst trying to fulfill his own sexual urges in the 80s. All of this expertly communicated through incredibly creative, yet technically and physically challenging dance pieces really made full impact of ever nuance of the interview."

Why was going to see this play useful for my research?

Press Reviews:

• "Engrossing, elegant. Astonishing physicality"- Time Out
• ''Lloyd Newson tells us John's story through interwined passages or verbatim speech and fluently choreographed movement"- Observer
• "Outstandingly effective and gripping dance theatre. A brilliant performance by Hannes Langolf"-Dagens Nyheter, Sweden
• "You can't leave this performance without being touched by John's life"- Deutschlandfunk, Germany