YouthandDeath, Chris Bell’s first evening-long work, is inspired by several experiences of deaths within his family circle and the subsequent reckoning with his own mortality.  Constructed as a highly choreographed, modern-day morality play – with elements of spoken word, song, and LGBT themes thrown into the mix – the piece follows five allegorical characters as they navigate stream-of-consciousness structure inspired by Seven Stages of Grief, Bell’s own memories, and the observation of humans dealing with life’s two most important cycles: youth and death.

In his approach to choreography, Bell conflates his formal dance training with his extensive experience of having worked as a professional club stripper. “Choreography is a process of seduction and meeting audience’s expectations as much as a creative act of empowerment and expression,” he explains. His sharply drawn gestural vocabulary often references everyday movement – the semi-conscious forms of physical expression that are not usually adopted as choreographic material. In addition to Bell, the work features dancers Nicole Baker, London Brison, AJ Guevara and Katarina Lott, dressed in Dav Burrington’s evocative costumes.