Survivor

Survivor marks Hofesh Shechter's first collaboration with another artist, joining forces with Antony Gormley for the creation of this new work for the Barbican Theatre. Survivor is also Shechter's first work to focus on his music, rather than his choreography, bringing a band of 30 musicians together to perform the work live.

Brave and different, Survivor has at its centre Shechter's music within a visual landscape by Gormley. Together they determine the rhythm and narrative of the work. Says Gormley: “Survivor is a work by Hofesh Shechter, interrupted and reconstructed by Antony Gormley.”

Shechter’s works have garnered much praise for his music as well as his choreography, marking him out as an emerging talent in both arenas. It is from these works that stem some of the epic, driving themes that fuel his score for Survivor, the first time he centres his creative talents on a concert of music. Performed live by his band of drummers, string players and electric guitarists, immerse yourself in his trademark percussive grooves, melancholy strings and atmospheric electronic soundscapes. 
Visceral and emotional, Survivor is about seeds of feeling, the search for continuity and the deconstruction of spectacle.

Premiere: 12th January 2012 – Barbican Theater, London

The Band: James Adams*, Chris Allan, Rebekah Allan, Laura Anstee, Joe Ashwin, Nic Breakspear*, Nell Catchpole, Chopper, Jub Davis, Yaron Engler, Mehdi Ganjvar*, Violeta Garcia*, Alison Gillies, Dominic Goundar, Joel Harries, Felicity Hindle*, Ed Hoare, Peter Hutchinson*, Norman Jankowski, James Keane, Moshik Kop, Bethan Lewis, Desmond Neysmith, Richard Phillips, Andrew Robb*, Afla Sackey*, J Peter Schwalm, Stephen Upshaw*, Joe Watts*, Natasha Zielazinski.

*Guildhall Musicians

Performers: Chien Ming Chang, Sam Coren, James Finnemore,
Bruno Guillore, Philip Hulford, Jason Jacobs

Music collaborators: Nell Catchpole and Yaron Engler
Video collaborator: Harry Dwyer

www.barbican.org.uk

To learn more about Survivor, including exclusive interviews with the musicians working on the piece, you can read our newsletters:

Episode 1: Yaron and Nell
Episode 2: Ed and Joel
Episode 3: Jan Peter
Episode 4: Alison and Desmond
Episode 5: Afla, Felicity, James, Mehdi

You can also watch interviews of Hofesh and Antony talking about the piece and their collaboration here

Survivor is commissioned by The Barbican, London and produced by Hofesh Shechter Company. Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and supported by Quercus Trust and Outset Contemporary Art Fund.  

In collaboration with Barbican/Guildhall School Creative Learning.