Hidden by Motionhouse at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Internationally renowned dance-circus company Motionhouse arrives to Aylesbury with its latest multimedia production Hidden.

Building on the successes of previous shows, including 2021’s major hit, Nobody, the production further develops Motionhouse’s distinctive and visceral dance-circus language, where breathtaking dance melts effortlessly into thrilling circus feats.

Founded in 1988 by Louise Richards MBE and Kevin Finnan MBE, Motionhouse create world class dance-circus productions that tour extensively to rave reviews across the globe. From full-length productions for theatre touring to flexible work for the outdoors and large-scale performance events, their sell-out productions integrate athletic physicality, powerful narrative, incredible digital imagery and emotive sound scores. Their work takes its inspiration from common human concerns and our connection to the world in which we live, with recent works exploring flooding, the pressure of time, fear and captivity, and our relationship with water, the Earth and energy. Their dancers perform on stunning sets, with aerialists and singers, in incredible settings and to breath-taking effect.

Their full-length productions tour to theatres across the UK and internationally, seamlessly integrating digital imagery with live performance, creating a ‘living film’ that draws audiences into the magical world on stage. Alongside their theatre work, with a three-and-a-half-decade track record of creating work in unusual settings, Motionhouse have secured a reputation as the ‘go to’ company to create visionary large-scale outdoor events; their Artistic Director Kevin Finnan MBE was Choreographer and Movement Director for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

At the cutting edge of live performance and digital integration, Hiddenis a powerful blend of artforms. Gravity-defying choreography, an emotive soundscape and a shape-shifting set combine with groundbreaking projections to create an immersive world on stage. Thought-provoking and poignant, Hidden explores how, in an increasingly divided world, light can come out of darkness in times of crisis.

The fearless performers throw, catch and lift each other with immense precision, thrilling audiences with heart-in-the-mouth moments in this action-packed new production. Having loved dance from an early age, I was captivated by things that I had never seen on stage before; the production used large, movable projection screens, huge adjustable cubes of scaffolding and steep, angled flooring, combined with cleverly changing light and immersive sound. The audience’s eye was constantly being drawn to newly expanding and dwindling spaces as the production constantly rezoned the action from significant and frantic to condensed and intimate. As with all live dance, it was disarming and emotive to hear the dancers breath and their footfall, as well as noting the expectant silence as the performers flung themselves fearlessly into space, often from a great height.

Ahead of Motionhouse’s performance of Hidden, the audience was also treated to a special curtain-raiser performance from the Boys Youth Dance group at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School. The group of boys aged 7–13, have been working closely with Harrison Yafai, Creative Learning Dance Artist at Motionhouse, in an intensive 2-day workshop to devise an exciting new piece, showcasing their creativity, energy and talent. Many of the performers had never danced before, let alone been on stage, and it was a strong, grounded performance which I found moving and humbling to watch.

Hidden premiered at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on 6^th February 2025. After it’s phenomenally successful 14-venue premiere tour of the UK and Europe (February – May 2025), Hidden is now on its 13-venue second tour, which started at Birmingham Hippodrome in October 2025. Touring will continue into 2027 and beyond. Upcoming tour dates are as follows:

Reviewed by:

Vicky Beuttler