From England with Love
Performed by Shechter II
Choreography and Music: Hofesh Shechter
Lighting Design: Tom Visser
Costume Concept: Hofesh Shechter
Additional Music: English compositions by Edward Elgar, Tomas Talis, Henry Purcell & William H. Monk
Dancers: Holly Brennan, Yun-chi Mai, Eloy Cojal Mestre, Matthea Lára Pedersen, Piers Sanders, Rowan Van Sen, Gaetano Signorelli and Toon Theunissen.
The multi-layered complexity of England takes centre stage in Hofesh Shechter’s compelling new work for Shechter II. From England with love is an ode to this intricate and beautiful country. Through Shechter’s choreography, the dancers evoke the paradox at the heart of this open, generous and soul – searching place, conflicted by its dark history and powerful attachment to old traditions. They draw us into their search for identity and self-knowledge as they grapple with this complex system of values. Performed to a rich score that combines the breath-taking sounds of English composers, presented in a clash with raging rock alongside echoes of choir and electronics in an avant-garde cacophony.
Playful and poignant, full of pride and paradox, From England with Love plays like a ‘Dear John’ letter… a farewell note to old England and a peek into the heart and soul of this beautiful, yet complicated place.
'Hofesh Shechter’s young company are an international bunch but their slo-mo curves and sudden shocks deliver some startling home truths about the UK’
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lyndsey Winship, The Guardian
‘Shechter’s score […] brings an electronic twist to classic English compositions, punching up Tallis and Purcell with heavy percussion and dystopian roars.’
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Debra Craine, The Times
‘this is very much a youth piece, a powerful impressionistic portrayal of young people coming of age in complex, bewildering and sometimes hostile surroundings’
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper
‘Not since Derek Jarman’s 1987 film The Last Of England have we seen the complexities of patriotism so creatively interrogated’
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Reviews Hub
‘Hofesh Shechter’s young company are an international bunch but their slo-mo curves and sudden shocks deliver some startling home truths about the UK.’
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lyndsey Winship, The Guardian
‘Production – not least its cinematic “jump cuts” from one scene to the next – is as crisp as Monster Munch, and the dancers perform as if possessed.’
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mark Monahan, The Telegraph
From England with Love is produced by Hofesh Shechter Company and co-commissioned by Château Rouge, scène conventionnée – Annemasse, Espace 1789, scène conventionnée danse - Saint-Ouen, Scène nationale de Bourg-en-Bresse, Düsseldorf Festival!, Escales Danse, with production support from Théâtre de la Ville Paris, Fondazione I Teatri Reggio Emilia and a production residency at DanceEast, Ipswich.
From England with Love premiered on 11 February 2021 at Zuiderstrandtheater in The Hague, The Netherlands, and was originally performed by Nederlands Dans Theater 1.
Hofesh Shechter Company gratefully receives support towards the delivery of Shechter II 2024. This includes core funding from John Ellerman Foundation and The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation and project funding from Jerwood Foundation towards Jerwood 🖤 SII – a new Continued Professional Development offer to the dancers.