About Obscura

Obscura is a powerful and original double bill of Umbra and Refuse, directed by Kevin Edward Turner MBE.

Obscura dances between light and darkness, exploring the shadows of self and society that stirs reflection long after the final step.

A powerful and nuanced trio, delicate and explosive in equal measure, Umbra spotlights exclusion and the universal search for understanding and to be understood.

Refuse, a quintet inspired by Géricault’s iconic painting The Raft of the Medusa, spotlights displacement by shining a light on the lived experiences of asylum seekers today.

Umbra looks inward at the parts of ourselves we deny, while Refuse looks outward at exclusion. Together the two works explore different aspects of the human experience and share stories relevant to the world we’re living in right now.

Both works will move you and invite you to engage in storytelling around relevant issues that are often simplified or dehumanised in the media and public debate.

4 Stars
Beautifully revealing…Unforgettably good
Judith Mackrell, The Guardian

Cast & Credits

Refuse

Choreography: Kevin Edward Turner MBE
Music: Brendan Williams
Set & costume design: Celia Perkins

Umbra

Choreography: Anthony Missen
Music: Babes Wodumo, Rival Consoles, Ólafur Arnalds, Shida Shahabi

Obscura lighting design: Josh Tomalin
Trailer: Ben Williams
Images: Joel Chester Fildes

About Company Chameleon

Company Chameleon make original, inspiring dance theatre in Manchester, and perform across the UK and the world.

The company began when Kevin Edward Turner and Anthony Missen met at Trafford Youth Dance Theatre in the mid-1990s. Two ordinary lads from Manchester, they shared an ambition to dance professionally.

After developing their talent at Trafford, they went on to train with the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, and after graduating travelled and worked with some of the world’s most innovative dance companies and choreographers.

They came home in 2007 with the aim of setting up their own dance company – and Company Chameleon was born. Today, Company Chameleon tours internationally, staging over 50 indoor and outdoor performances every year. The team has grown from a team of two to a team of fourteen and is now based at its own dance studio in Openshaw, Manchester.

In 2019, Company Chameleon welcomed Dame Darcey Bussell on board as the Company’s first-ever Patron.