★★★★★
“There are certain works that permanently alter one’s perception of the world; Lived Fiction is one such creation.”

– A Young(ish) Perspective

★★★★
“Lived Fiction is full of wit, sophistication and spellbinding movement. Over and over again, its intensity and invention take you by surprise.”

– The Observer

“As the performance finishes, I feel I have experienced something with everyone here. For the first time, I’ve been given my window into dance.”

– Caroline Butterwick for The Guardian. Caroline Butterwick is a freelance journalist who is visually impaired.

Lived Fiction | Putting access and inclusion at the heart of its work

For two decades, the UK’s Stopgap Dance Company has been an exemplar of diversity and inclusion on stage, using dance as a movement for change. As a global leader of inclusive dance, Stopgap strives to not only showcase Disabled talent, but also enable performances to be accessible to as many and diverse audiences as possible. With this in mind, Stopgap presents Lived Fiction, a performance with the potential to shape the future of experiencing contemporary dance from multiple perspectives.

A manifestation of Stopgap’s 20 year history, Lived Fiction is an atmospheric, multisensory work that blends sensual choreography with innovative sound and visual design with accessibility features creatively weaved in. This includes evocative audio description, as well as projection art and audio captioning—a groundbreaking production where access features for Deaf or hard of hearing, blind or low vision, Disabled and neurodivergent audiences have been intricately intertwined throughout the performance.

Featuring seven performers with and without disabilities, the production spotlights each performer’s experiences and stories through movement and spoken word. Across two acts, solo, duet and group performances unfold, reflecting each individual’s relationship with dance and movement, their lived realities and with one another. Earnest and contemplative with elements of playfulness, this dance work resonates in its compassion for the human condition, empowering audiences to experience dance and life itself, through a myriad of different perspectives.

Lived Fiction invites you to come participate in this microcosm of an inclusive world, where everyone can revel in the joy of a shared future that is rich with the enterprise, potential and the power of diversity.

Creative Access

We would like both the performers and the audience to gain a shared-experience and revel in the joy of different people cohabiting the theatre space. Lived Fiction is a collaboration between artists and creatives who are Deaf, Disabled, neurodivergent and non-disabled, and equipped with the following access features:

• Assistive Listening (AL)

• Audio Captioning (CAP)

• Audio Description (AD)

• Relaxed Environment (RE) performances

• A 30-min Touch Tour before each performance 

• Post-show talk after each performance, with Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) interpretation

Details on what to expect in Lived Fiction can be found in the Visual Story, Sonic Story and What to Expect video. Here are some things which may be surprising during the performances:

• Dancers will be in the performance space as the audience enters.

• There are some bright lights and loud music in small sections, these are warned about through the audio description.

• One of the performers approaches the audience (seated in the front few rows) and offers touch – a handshake. Another performer goes to the auditorium steps, and at one point sits amongst the audience, offering the opportunity to converse together.

• During the 15-min intermission, some of the performers remain in the space and can be approached to talk to.

• In the second half of the performance, there is a section using some haze/smoke effect.

This programme is presented as part of da:ns focus – EveryBody, a weekend of dance which expands the ideas and conventions of the perfect dancing body by presenting high quality works and experiences focusing on inclusivity, diversity and participation, where we encourage everybody and every body to experience dance.