three bharatanatyam dancers striking a sitting pose under red light with a background of white plastic cans

 

Plastic Drastic Fantastic

About the work

A new dance show exploring our complex relationship – from the molecular to the planetary – with all things plastic.

Plastic. Is it friend or foe? Remarkable or rubbish? Helpful or harmful?

Plastic Drastic Fantastic is a contemporary dance theatre work for children and their families which explores our complex relationship with plastics – the fantastic possibilities they offer, as well as the drastic consequences to the environment.

Drawing from South Asian dance techniques, the artists explore plastics and the dangers of their misuse through intricate movement, gestures and play infused with interaction with the audience. The processes and stories underpinning this project have been steered by children and young people – who are at the heart of the research for this work – created in collaboration with material scientists at UCL. The show initially was co-produced with Polka Theatre.

Plastic Drastic Fantastic is an inclusive experience, accessible for D/deaf young people and children.

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Our Autumn 2023 tour is booking now at venues across the UK. For more information please contact info@akademi.co.uk.

Download the tech pack below for detailed information about the show. To request more information or enquire about touring this work please get in touch, email info@akademi.co.uk.

The Spring 2022 tour took place at: Polka Theatre, Wimbledon from 6 April to 8 May 2022 and Watermans Art Centre, Brentford on 15 May 2022.

“Excellent and stunning…”
“Breath-taking and astonishing…”
“Amazing and beautiful…”

Young audience members

“I strongly recommend that parents and children catch this wonderful show.”

Anita Chanda, Pulse Magazine

“It’s wonderfully refreshing to see classic South Asian dance performed so playfully and in a contemporary context.”

Mary Pollard, Everything Theatre

2023 Tour Dates

Great Ormond Street Hospital, London

Tues 3 Oct

2:30pm Performance
(closed performance)

Harrow Arts Centre, London

Fri 6–Sun 8 Oct

Performances & workshops

  • Fri 6 Oct:
    9:30am Performance (schools) followed by a workshop
  • Sat 7 Oct:
    11am Performance (public)
    1pm workshop
  • Sun 8 Oct:
    11am Performance (relaxed)
    1pm workshop (relaxed)

Pegasus Theatre, Oxford

Sat 21 Oct

11am & 2pm Performance

Museum of Oxford

Tues 24 Oct

11am & 1pm Family workshops

The Place, London

Thurs 26 Oct

11:30am & 2:30pm Workshop
1:30pm Performance

DanceEast, Ipswich

Fri 27–Sat 28 Oct

Performances followed by Q&A and workshops

  • Fri 27 Oct:
    Time SEND workshop
  • Sat 28 Oct:
    2:30pm Performance + Q&A
    4pm Workshop (for 7-12 years)

Dance Woking

Tues 31 Oct–Wed 1 Nov

Performances, workshops and CPD for artists

31 Oct:
11:30am Family workshop

1:30pm
Performance

1 Nov: 10:30am
Professional CPD for artists led by Akademi

1:30pm & 5:30pm Performances

Warwick Arts, Coventry

Fri 3–Sun 5 Nov

Part of the Planting Roots Festival
Performances, discussions & workshops

  • Fri 3 Nov:
    11am & 1pm Family workshops
  • Sat 4 Nov:
    11am Performance + Q&A
    1:30pm ‘Hear from the expert’ family discussion with Suba & scientists
    2:15pm Performance (relaxed) + Q&A
    3:30pm Family workshop
  • Sun 5 Nov:
    11am Family workshop
    2pm Performance + Q&A
    3:30pm workshops

The Spark Arts for Children, Leicester

Mon 6–Fri 10 Nov

‘At Your School’ Performances in schools

Three bharatanatyam artists standing in line and striking a titled pose

“We can’t tell you how excited we are about this show. We’ve taken ideas from kids from all around the country to create a fun, thoughtful and engaging show exploring the good and bad of all the plastics we use in our day-to-day lives. Our South Asian dancers and creative team have developed a truly unique show we’re sure children and their families will love.”

Suba Subramaniam, Director & Choreographer

Credits

Creative Team

RoleCredit
Direction and ChoreographySuba Subramaniam
Sound Artist and ComposerKathy Hinde
Sound and Technical ArtistMatt Olden
Set DesignersBrian Hartley and Jesal Patel
Lighting DesignersAideen Malone and Ben Cowens
Costume DesignerBrian Hartley
Creative Consultant for D/deaf AudiencesRamesh Meyappan
ProducerBelinda Sculley
Rehearsal DirectorsKamala Devam and Archita Kumar
Production ManagerSimon Beyer
Stage ManagerMeg Le Marchant

Supported by

Originally Co-produced by

Polka Theatre logo in red

2023 Performance Credits

Credit
Anekha Pillai
Kirsten Newell
Mithun Gill

Media Credits

RoleCredit
ImagesBrian Hartley
TrailerJustin Jones
LocationCourtesy of Polka Theatre and Harrow Arts Centre

Spring 2022 Credits

RoleCredit
CastAnjana Bala, Shivaangee Agrawal, Shyam Dattani
ProducerMatt Borgatti
Production ManagerAdam Crosthwaite
Costume DesignerRachana Jadhav
Original co-producerPolka Theatre

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