Dance Nation | THAT Production Company
What would you want your thirteen-year-old self to know? Dance Nation invites the audience to reflect, just as its performers reflect the energy, emotion, and growth of youth through dance.
All images: Stage Shots
This comedic theatre show, written by Clare Barron and directed by Matilda Award-winner Timothy Wynn, opened with an energetic tap number in striking sailor costumes, bringing the stage alive with rhythm and movement at West End’s New Benner Theatre.
The production made excellent use of the performance space. Eva Fitz’s set design was thoughtful, particularly the glass mirror dance studio separating the interior and exterior areas, which created dynamic visual depth and emphasised contrasts between the stage, rehearsal space, and changing room. Although props were minimal, the set was enhanced by Wes Bluff’s dramatic lighting, which balanced the mundane with the magical, and Brady Watkins’ dynamic 3D sound design, which highlighted emotional beats and drew attention to key moments. These technical elements worked seamlessly together, immersing the audience in the world of the play and amplifying both the tension and humour throughout.
Having read that the characters are young dancers, one might have expected the show to be performed by actual teenagers, but the use of adults actors in the guise of thirteen-year-olds was a deliberate and effective choice; as some of the content was complex or mature, adult actors could explore these themes safely without compromising authenticity. The cast delivered convincing, nuanced performances, capturing the messy, chaotic, and hilarious world of adolescence vividly through their energy, expressions, and timing. In some scenes, the characters’ adult selves spoke with compassion while their younger characters danced on the side, creating a split-image effect that blended nostalgia and reflection. The ballet/lyrical dance movements often mirrored or enhanced the dialogue, making the storytelling vivid and layered. The play’s surrealism—jumping between the dancers’ inner worlds, shifting timelines, and moments of heightened reality—added a flickering sense of time and memory, evoking the awkward, embarrassing, and sometimes painfully familiar truth of our own teenage years.
Beyond the performances themselves, the play explored ambition, rivalry, friendship, and the young dancers’ curiosity about their puberty and early sexuality. The same energy and power fuelled their drive to dance for Nationals; they chanted in unison about dancing away world hunger, depression, and violence, mirroring the words of their dance teacher, Pat: “Think of all the people in the world who are suffering...and dance for them.”
All images: Stage Shots
One of the most memorable moments for me came during the Nationals scene, which particularly resonated with me due to my own experience as a dancer and competitive all-star cheerleader. Seeing the performers navigate unexpected challenges on stage reminded me of the pressure, the split-second decisions, and the emotions involved in high-stakes competition. The energy and teamwork captured in that moment made the scene feel immediate and alive, while also highlighting the delicate balance between supporting teammates and managing personal expectations.
Without spoiling too much, this standing-ovation production will make you LOL, cringe, and maybe even gasp at the frankness of its language and topics. The terrific cast brought chaos, vulnerability and teenage angst to the stage, making every scene hilarious, heartfelt, and impossible to look away from; I even found myself memorising some of the lines after watching. In the end, this production was an unforgettable reminder of just how brilliantly messy growing up can be.
Dance Nation plays at Metro Arts’ New Benner Theatre until 30 August 2025.
