Since the establishment of the company, First Physical Theatre has been dedicated to supporting and highlighting emerging choreographers – many of whom have gone on to become leaders in South African contemporary dance and physical theatre.

The New Voices programme is an annual performance platform that gives young choreographers the opportunity to showcase innovative, arresting and dynamic work. New Voices was first launched by First Physical’s founder professor Gary Gordon in 1993, making this the 19th year of the programme.

Villain, choreographed by Sonja Smit, a PhD student at Rhodes University Drama Department, deals with the notion of the scapegoat and the complexity of the antagonist. The work delivers an atypical take on the embodiments of the archetypal ‘evil’ character through an investigation of the fragile spine of the fiend. A cast of 16 performers inhabit the intimate location of the Nun’s Chapel to create the sense of relentless but condensed energy. Inspired by Francisco Goya’s Los Capricho’s print series, Villain is a site-informed and physically charged performance experience that engages with the complexity of contemporary desire.

First Physical Theatre Company is known for presenting intriguing, intelligent and innovative works and this year’s Villain follows in line.

Villain runs at the Nun’s Chapel on 29 June at 14:00, 30 June at 18:00, 1 July at 17:00, 2 July at 14:00, and 4 and 6 July at 21:30. Tickets are available at Computicket, and there is a limited audience capacity.

First Physical Theatre Company is proudly supported by Rhodes University.