This week Life In Progress was in Athens as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival 2015. Situated right next to the Acropolis in the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, an outdoor amphitheatre pictured above, it was hard to imagine a more picturesque spot for the Greek goodbye (or αντίo) to Sylvie.

Over nine thousand people were enchanted by the spell binding show causing an atmosphere so electric it rivalled Zeus’ own lightning bolt.

This picture was taken by Nick Rundall the shows sound engineer and the production manager Andy Downie is in the left corner preparing everything for a perfect performance.

This week has been a momentous one for Sadler’s Wells’ producing and touring department with Sylvie Guillem’s final dance tour Life In Progress on our home turf. After premiering in Modena at the end of March, Life In Progress travelled to Rome and Łodz before London as it begins its ten month tour, culminating in Japan in December.

At Sadler’s Wells the buzz reverberating through the sold-out audience was palpable as the curtain opened for Sylvie’s opening solo – technê choreographed by Akram Khan. Next was William Forsythe’s DUO performed by Riley Watts and Brigel Gjoka followed by Russell Malliphant’s duet Here & After performed by Sylvie and Emanuela Montanari, described as “pure sensuousness” (The Stage). Finally the show closed with Mats Ek’s solo; Bye creating an emotional and poignant climax before Sylvie received a full standing ovation from the entire audience.

Pictured here is one of our producers Sandra with Sylvie after the show.

Sylvie, we will miss you.

What a week! Sadler’s Wells’ touring productions are having a very exciting week – with two premieres and a total of four productions on the road.

On Tuesday 31 March, Sylvie Guillem’s Life in Progress received its world premiere at the stunning Luciano Pavarotti Teatro Comunale in Modena, Italy. The sell out show received a rapturous response from the audience and prompted a unanimous standing ovation.

Celebrating Life in Progress premiere. Photo by Suzanne Walker

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Following on from their massively successful final London performances, Sylvie Guillem and Russell Maliphant performed PUSH in Taipei for the first time this weekend.

They were certainly looking forward to the show as giant posters appeared all over the city.

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Sadler’s Wells’ production PUSH enjoyed rapturous applause and a unanimous standing ovation on it’s opening night at the London Coliseum yesterday. These performances are the last time PUSH will be performed in London which only added to the excitement of the audience.

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