Akram Khan - Xenos - The Lowry, 29 September 2021

[Jan McNulty]

Last night I finally got to see Akram Khan's Xenos at The Lowry last night and I was really glad to be there!

 

There was just a single information sheet given out and I only looked at it this morning!

 

We got into the auditorium about 15 minutes early and 2 musicians were on the stage playing Indian music and singing.  Finally, with the house lights still up Akram Khan joined them on stage dressed in a traditional shalwar kameez with ankle bells.

 

The set was a large slope artfully decorated with ropes and a string of lights.  I did find it irritating that the lights would go out with loud crackles (but that is a minor thing).  Akram danced around in the Kathak style - he has got the most beautifully fluid arms and hands.  I found him, as always, mesmerising to watch.  Eventually he unwound the ankle bells and they became almost like tethers.  The musicians disappeared and he climbed up the slope.

 

All told there were 5 musicians who then occasionally appeared and disappeared out of the darkness at the top of the slope.  As ever, there was also a soundscape.  The score was very effective, ending with a section from Mozart's Requiem.

 

The second section of the work was much more sombre and seemed to reflect soldiers going over the top.  This was started by all the ropes and props beening pulled up over the top. The dance was anguished and much more contemporary in style.  At one point Akram (whose costume had been changed to a pair of trousers and a loose jacket) was rolling around in the soil on the slope.  Ultimately the stage went dark as names were being read out.

 

I found this work quite a hard watch but ultimately rewarding.

 

Akram Khan has an incredible quality of movement that makes him absolutely mesmerising to watch.

 

It was only this morning that I read the information sheet and realised that this work had been commissioned by 14-18 NOW: WW! Centenary Art Commissions and realised that my friend and I's assumption that the second section was about trenches in WW1 was correct!

 

I feel privileged to have seen this, his final solo work, and would urge everyone to go and see it if they can.