Press Release: Fallen Angels Dance Theatre Spring Tour 2018

[Jan McNulty]

Dance company telling local stories of addiction recovery with spellbinding show

A dance company transforming the lives of people struggling with addiction through theatre and performance, will hold a series of FREE performances in Merseyside and Chester this February. Dark Night Ends is an interactive dance theatre performance from Fallen Angels Dance Theatre (FADT) featuring live dance, spoken word and real life authentic stories of recovery from addiction. With elements of audience participation, the performance is the culmination of a project set out by the company to explore new approaches to retelling recovery stories through dance theatre. An interactive discussion post performance will give an insight into FADT’s powerful participatory practice with people in recovery from addiction in the local area. The event will also be used to engage with local Cheshire and Merseyside services and organisations as well as charities working within mental health and addiction support.   The performances have been made possible through funding from Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Trusthouse Charitable Foundation and Linbury Trust. Faiza Khan MBE, Director of Policy and Communications at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation said "We value the power that the arts have in helping people to break down barriers and engage in conversations that they would not normally have." "By using dance theatre as a channel for powerful stories that could otherwise remain hidden, FADT are using the arts to reach out to people in an exciting way. We hope that by connecting audiences with performers and using workshops and performances in an innovative way FADT will be able to reach out to more people and help to raise awareness about the journey from addiction to recovery.” Dark Night Ends comes to Chester's Storyhouse on 12th February before heading to Birkenhead's Pilgrim Arts Centre on 13th February then onto the Capstone Theatre in Liverpool on 15th February. Admission is FREE and there will be charitable collections at each event. - ENDS -   About FADT Heading up the company is artistic director Paul Bayes Kitcher, a former soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet, and himself a recovered addict. Talking about the new work/performances, Bayes Kitcher said: “At Fallen Angels, we are very passionate about using dance theatre as a vehicle to support, inspire and rehabilitate people on their journey to find recovery. This can be an extremely powerful process and we hope by giving a physical voice to recovering addicts and alcoholics, we aspire and bring light to dark places for those in the grip of addiction. We are so very grateful to all our funders and supporters, including Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Trusthouse Charitable Foundation and Linbury Trust”   Website: www.fallenangelsdancetheatre.co.uk Twitter: @FallenAngelsDT Facebook: Fallen Angels Dance Theatre Instagram: FallenAngelsRising     Listings information:  Storyhouse, Chester Monday 12th February, 2018 // 1pm (Garrett Theatre) www.storyhouse.com // 01244 409 113 Pilgrim Arts Centre, Birkenhead Tuesday 13th February, 2018 // 7pm www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dark-night-ends-tickets-41236988944 Capstone Theatre, Liverpool Thursday 15th February, 2018 // 6.45pm www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dark-night-ends-tickets-40782965949