How to Build a Universe
by Extended Play
About How to Build a Universe
Impossible not to see [...] as not so much being about building a universe in the scientific sense, but about the building and functioning of a community.
Five people find themselves in a blank void between worlds. Led by a mysterious voice, they set out on an adventure to create a new universe, one shape at a time. As they dance their way through a cosmic orientation, echoes of past creations rise and fall. The real magic happens when they must welcome new cast members from London who arrive without a map or instructions. Together, they improvise, weaving a tapestry of movement and emotion to bring a new universe to life, on a journey where dance, art, and spontaneity come together to create something unique.
How To Build A Universe is the latest production from choreographer Jamaal Burkmar. Formed of two parts, How To Build A Universe showcases Extended Play's creative process: visually striking, mesmerising dance to intoxicating music, and improvisation with guest participants. Through a collision of music and movement, audiences are invited to uncover the elemental joy at the heart of Extended Play’s practice.
How To Build A Universe is co-produced by The Place. Co-commissioned by The Place and Certain Blacks. Supported using public funding from Arts Council England. Part of Certain Blacks, Soul on Ice festival.
About Jamaal Burkmar
A resident of Leeds, Jamaal Burkmar’s first creation was as a second year student at the Northern School for Contemporary Dance (NSCD) where he created a piece entitled Ocean. The work gained critical acclaim, was performed around the North until it became the first and only undergraduate commissioned to rework the piece for VERVE the postgraduate company at NSCD.
His work is about music, it’s about the world that music creates and the world that our performers inhabit because of that. In 2021 Jamaal became one of 10 new Workplace artists at The Place and has since created and toured Donuts, co-produced by The Place. Jamaal is a Work Place Artist at The Place.
Cast and Creatives
Choreographer: Jamaal Burkmar
Dancers: Imogen Wright, Alex Gosmore, Haizea Andueza, Fern Grimbley, Pablo Reyero
Producer: Treacle Holasz
Lighting Designer: Barnaby Booth
Production Manager and Re-lighter: Alexandra Anzemberger
Costume Designer: Andrew Walker
Costume Assistant: Rowan Wootten
Assistant Producer: Zoe Grain
Music Score: James Zoo
Accessibility
The performance on Saturday is BSL interpreted.
