A beautiful journey of emotion told through movement and theatre.
IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!, choreographed by Julian Nichols and performed by Naomi Chockler, Chieh-Hann Chang, Elisa Chou, Grace Malone, and Paxton Ricketts is a captivating contemporary dance-theatre work exploring isolation, the struggle for visibility in groups and feeling left out while the party’s all for you. Set within birthday celebrations, a relatable moment for all, the work examines how the expectation of a good time can give rise to conflicting emotions.
From its gripping opening, the work takes the audience on a rollercoaster of individual experiences, expressed mainly through movements rather than words, that remain engaging throughout. The audience are pulled through funny and lighthearted moments to tense moments of disquiet and unease. The variety of choreography, skillfully directed by Nichols, keeps the performance visually exciting, and bursts of monologue add to the emotional layering of the piece. The choreography connects strongly with the spoken words, building the atmosphere of each scene. The setting of a birthday party, fizzing with excitement and nervous energy charged by a gathering of strangers and friends, gives way to a bold exploration of isolation and exclusion which takes centre stage during the ensemble scenes.
The ensemble work is one of the production’s strongest elements. The performers move together with impressive unity while still allowing their individual personalities to shine through. Naomi Chockler, Chieh-Hann Chang, Elisa Chou, Grace Malone, and Paxton Ricketts all bring expressive physicality and great facial expressions, which work really well alongside the movement. In particular, Paxton Ricketts’ movement feels incredibly detailed and engaging to watch. The smaller theatrical moments woven throughout the piece are especially charming, adding humour and intimacy that make the performance feel even more immersive.
Caitlin Mawhinney’s set design is clever. It strikes a balance between playful context and negative space and is well used throughout the performance. The set captures the atmosphere of a birthday party without overwhelming the stage, complementing the movement and performance rather than distracting from it. This balance allows the emotional tension created through choreography and music to remain central to the work.
The pace of the performance shifts throughout, building to peaks before slowing, and the contrasting levels of energy work well to carry momentum forward. Due to the performance not following a linear narrative, there are moments where the emotional shifts happen very quickly, making certain transitions feel slightly unclear and occasionally disconnected from the narrative overall. Other shifts feel a little too abrupt, where scenes could have been extended further to keep tension riding high, but the overall pacing skillfully mirrors the emotional turbulence at the heart of the piece. The recurring themes of self-worth and visibility continue to ground the performance, particularly through the more isolated solo parts.
It’s My Birthday! is an engaging and emotionally layered performance, marked by energy, vulnerability, and strong ensemble work. The performance presents a fascinating blend of dance and theatre.
This show runs at X until Y. Tickets here.