BalletBoyz – Still Pointless: BalletBoyz at 25
Connaught Theatre Worthing
Sat 6th & Sun 7th June 2026
Commissioned, Produced and Presented by
Michael Nunn and William Trevitt
Production Manager: Mike Lindsay
I am still catching my breath after witnessing around 90 minutes of one of the most incredible art works in the form of dance and movement I ever thought possible. This is no exaggeration.
BalletBoyz have been around since their genesis in 2001, created by Michael and Billy, two young men totally committed to bringing contemporary dance and cinematic storytelling to diverse audiences. In 2005 BalletBoyz became an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation, remaining a support which endures 21 years later. When Michael and Billy delivered their very first performance at the Roundhouse, London in 2001 some of its present dancers were yet to be born and now, 25 years on, this fabulous troupe of creatives manage to achieve ever greater heights of innovation and boundary breaking works. ‘Still Pointless’ demonstrates that classical ballet, modern dance and movement can combine to tell stories and evoke emotion that will affect audiences long after leaving the theatre.
Despite the self titled, slightly deprecating byname of ‘Pointless’, this band of ridiculously talented dancers are almost scarily serious in making their point. After 25 years of evolution and revolution in their field, today’s ‘Still Pointless’ is a culmination of all those years working with a variety of brilliant choreographers, their works carefully curated to showcase 8 eclectic styles in collaborative dance and movement delivering 8 individual stories, interspersed with screenings of ‘live’ scraps of interviews and rehearsals, with subtitles beneath. My only tiny gripe is that the screen could have been bigger, perhaps projected, and sitting right at the back of the auditorium the text at the bottom of the screen was a mite tricky to read.
The production is divided into two acts, each with 4 individual pieces, kicking off with ‘Motor Cortex’, choreographed by Seirian Griffiths (also one of the dancers) and only recently debuted in May this year. It is thoughtful and complex, and as with each successive piece, proves capable of evoking different reactions, different emotions and different perspectives. The last piece in the first act ‘Young Men’ (Ivan Perez)is supremely affecting; its theme of war, a group of soldiers literally battling with unending combat and death, and one man’s mental struggle in surviving just one single day, is performed with a poignant beauty difficult to describe.
Each one of the eight performances is extraordinary in its fluidity, agility, seamless symmetry and asymmetry, which could never be achieved without 100% trust. The ceaseless complex collaboration between every dancer is remarkable; impeccable timing, effortless lifts and ‘falls’ are something to be marvelled at, no doubt achieved through hours and hours of rehearsal sessions. It works.
The second act doesn’t disappoint. Including ‘Us’, a uniquely complex duet featuring two dancers demonstrating an evolving relationship between two individuals, taking us through each stage to its final resolution. It’s choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, long sought after as a collaborator, and contrasts entirely with the final piece. ‘Fiction’ from Javier de Frutos brings together the whole ensemble, and is so imaginative it almost assaults our senses with its demands on our own interpretation. An incredible piece of work. Elements of it are narrated by Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter.
Of course, the lighting (designed by Andrew Ellis) plays a big part itself in producing the drama and unique atmosphere of each performance, as is the music and sound: sometimes a compelling backbeat, the next an intensity of violin crescendos, followed by the insistent brassiness of horns and trumpets. Put everything together and you have a heady concoction of skill talent and creativity which surely cannot fail to thrill.
‘Still Pointless’ ? This superb production most certainly isn’t.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Approx 2 hours including 20 minute interval
Connaught Theatre Worthing, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June
UK Tour
Reviewer: Gill Ranson
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