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Not a moment too soon

Part of the Merce Cunningham Centennial

— ,Silk Street Theatre

Trevor Carlson, close friend and Executive Director to Merce Cunningham, reflects on the 12 years he spent with the choreographer, offering a rare look at the final days of a master.

Filled with unseen footage of Merce, this show is a tapestry of video, text, music and dance. As he weaves in and around projection panels hung onstage, Carlson’s narration takes us through recollections of precious moments he spent with Merce. A journey into identity, memory and emotions, the dream-like solo shifts between monologues and intimate clips of the iconic artist at work and at play.

In 2001, in a dressing room in Australia, Cunningham stared at his reflection while filming himself on his own camcorder. Interested in the fleeting nature of things, he uttered the words: ‘not a moment too soon’.  Taking this recording as a starting point, Carlson tells the history of their adventures, tapping into key periods of Cunningham’s (1919-2009) later life and saying farewell to a loved one.
 

Tagged with: Theatre & dance Contemporary Dance Dance More...

Part of the official celebration of the Merce Cunningham Centennial

Duration: 1 hour 10 mins, no interval
Age guidance: 12+

Fri 5 Apr
Post-show talk
Free to same-day ticket holders

Presented by the Barbican

Produced by Thorus Arts

Co-produced by the Barbican and Mercat de les Flors 

Supported by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, ICEC Generalitat de Catalunya and Consorci Institut Estudis Balearics 
 

Creative team

  • Ferran Carvajal   Creation and Direction
  • Albert Tola   Dramaturgy
  • Trevor Carlson, Ferran Carvajal, Albert Tola   Texts
  • Miquel Àngel Raió   Video
  • Max Glaenzel   Set Design
  • Jaume Manresa   Composer
  • María Domènech   Lighting
  • Alejandro Andújar   Costumes
  • Casey Curran   Sculpture
  • Mark Seliger   Photography

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Reviews

‘An astonishing interpretation‘
EnPlatea.com (Spain)

Digital programme

Merce Cunningham

Long read : 100 Years of Merce Cunningham

Celebrating 100 years since the birth of one of the most influential American choreographers of the 20th century, we invite his contemporaries, collaborators and performers to share their memories and explore the legacy of Merce Cunningham.

Read
Merce Cunningham

Listen: Richard Alston on Merce Cunningham

Choreographer Richard Alston reflects on the infuence of Merce Cunningham on his career and the Richard Alston Dance Company. 

Silk Street Theatre

Location
The Silk Street Theatre, Music Hall and Lecture Recital Room are located in the main Guildhall School building on Silk Street and for Barbican produced events the venue can also be accessed from the Barbican if you exit via the doors next to Barbican Kitchen on Level G. 

Address
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Silk Street
Barbican
London
EC2Y 8DT

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.