“They dance in
studied, formal slow-motion, arms raised at the elbow, to
Struan Leslie's beautiful, ghostly choreography… the
physical symptoms of terror, choreographing the women's
nervy, restless movements as they drift around like
captive, frightened animals…”
Nicholas de Jongh, Evening Standard - Women of
Troy, National Theatre, Nov 07
Press Release
Struan Leslie will join the RSC in the newly created post of Head of Movement. Commenting on his new job, Struan said:
“After 20 years as a freelance choreographer and movement director, exploring the nature of movement, it’s really exciting to come to the RSC at a time when there is so much emphasis on the future. This role presents me with the opportunity to consolidate all my previous work and focus it, particularly on the ensemble.
To be in the same place, with the same actors, staff and directors and being part of a team across the whole organisation is very important. Instead of being someone who drops in, creates something and then leaves, I will have the opportunity to form long term relationships and set up a whole new department.”
Michael Boyd, the RSC’s Artistic Director said:
“I am delighted that Struan Leslie is joining us as our Head of Movement. During his first few weeks with us he will combine working with me as Movement Director for As You Like It with getting his feet firmly under the table of the organisation and his new role.
Struan comes to us with rich experience as Movement Director in theatre, education, TV and opera. We are thrilled that he is bringing his knowledge and experience to the RSC.”
Full text of Press Release
Recent Work
Matthew Herbert Big
Band
Struan choreographed the
80 piece choir for the Matthew Herbert Big Band gig
at the Royal Festival Hall (21 Nov 2008)
Miss Eska, lead vocalist, with the choir in the background
"smartly choreographed"
The Times
"The Royal Festival Hall was left buzzing last night,
astounded by a one-off show from the
Matthew Herbert Big Band and a chorus of more than 60
volunteers."
www.shook.fm
Guys and
Dolls
Stadttheater,
Bielefeld, Germany
In rep from October 08 through 2009
“Alles ist Bewegung” [Trans.] Everything is
Movement
Neue Westfålische
"Es wird keine Tanzshow", hatte der schottische
Regisseur und Choreograf
Struan Leslie angekündigt. Das stimmt insofern, dass es
keine Tanznummern
aus reinem Selbstzweck gibt. Dennoch ist das Stück eine Art
großer Tanz.
Inspiriert von der plakativen Bilderwelt der Comics loten
Leslie und Co-Choreograf
Gregory LeBlanc Charaktere und Situationen über die
Körpersprache aus.
Das Spiel des Ensembles ist dynamisch, temporeich und
differenziert,
beeindruckend auch der Aktionsreichtum in den Massenszenen.
[TRANS] "There will be no dance show," the Scottish
director and choreographer
Struan Leslie announced. That is correct to that extent
that there are no dance numbers
as a pure end in itself. Yet the piece is a kind of Big
Dance. Inspired by the striking images
from the world of comics Leslie imbues the characters and
situations with that
heightened body language. The play of the ensemble is
dynamic, fast-paced,
rich and diverse, impressive, the crowd scenes rich in
action.
Overspill
by Ali Taylor
Struan's work as movement director and choreographer on
Overspill was seen at
the Soho Theatre, London from 14th October to 1st November,
following it's success at
metamorphosis 08 at the Churchill Theatre,
Bromley
"driving production finds a physicality to match the
beat of the words"
Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
"The heightened poetic writing ... has a pulsating rhythm,
beautifully
attuned to the strutting beat of bravado, the pounding
nightmare of
paranoia and sudden outbursts of savagery. It's delivered
in a
production that rises to it in rhythmic, choreographed
vitality."
Paul Taylor, The Independent