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A future race of humans finds itself on the verge of extinction. Almost all that’s left in the world are lone and surreal monuments, beaming their message into the wilderness.
Based on the ground-breaking 1930 sci-fi novel by Olaf Stapledon, Last and First Men (2020) concluded the beautiful career of the Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson. Neon Dance presents a contemporary dance work set to the backdrop of Johann Jóhannsson’s 16mm black and white film, with narration from Tilda Swinton and original score composed by Jóhannsson and Yair Elazar Gotman. Neon Dance previewed Last and First Men at the Science Museum in London as part of their Science Fiction exhibition on 4th May 2023 and premiered the work at the Volksbühne in Berlin as part of CTM Festival on 2nd February 2024. The work has gone on to be presented at Festival of Tomorrow (Swindon, UK) and a live music premiere took place at Rewire Festival (The Hague, NL) on 2nd April 2024.
Last and First Men
by Neon Dance
Jóhann Jóhannsson & Yair Elazar Glotman,
narration by Tilda Swinton
Created by | Neon Dance
Concept & Direction | Adrienne Hart
Film | Last and First Men directed by Jóhann Jóhannsson ft. Tilda Swinton
Musical Direction | Yair Elazar Glotman
Composition | Johann Jóhannsson & Yair Elazar Glotman
Choreography | Adrienne Hart in collaboration with Fukiko Takase, Kelvin Kilonzo, Aoi Nakamura, Makiko Aoyama
Dance Performance | Fukiko Takase, Kelvin Kilonzo, Aoi Nakamura
Music Performance | Yair Elazar Glotman, Viktor Orri Arnason, Else Torp & Echo Collective String Quartet (Margaret Hermant, violin | Neil Leiter, viola | Charlotte Danhier, cello | Jaroslaw Mroz, Bass)
Music Performance Lighting Design | Nico De Rooij
Costume Design | Mikio Sakabe & Ana Rajcevic
Artefacts | Ana Rajcevic
Technical Management | Rick Vincent Will
Video Trailer | Ralph van Boeschoten
Photography | Miles Hart & Parsifal Werkman
Graphic Design | Naile Muslu
Project Management | Maeve O’Neill
Supported by | CTM Festival Berlin, Rewire Festival, Sadler’s Wells, Swindon Dance, Pavilion Dance South West
Funded by | Arts Council England
