Projects

Deeds Not Words

To mark the centenary of the Representation of the People’s Act 1918 (where some women over 30+ won the right to vote in the UK); Abbott Dance Theatre presents Deeds Not Words, a moving and energetic piece of dance theatre highlighting and commemorating women’s suffrage in the UK. This beautiful piece brings to light the harrowing treatment of women and gender equality – this is a work that sheds light on the physical and mental fight women have faced in their struggle for suffrage.

Through emotional and fierce choreography Artistic Director Kristin Kelly-Abbott reveals the harsh realities of the suffragette movement and the immense courage of women as they faced imprisonment, hunger strikes and force-feeding, and how Anti-Suffrage Propaganda and Pro-Suffrage Propaganda affected the cause. Weaved throughout the choreography are references to the lives of particular suffragettes including Emily Wilding Davison, Dame Ethel Smyth and Emmeline Pankhurst.

Launch Day

Launch Day draws its inspiration from paintings by Alexander Millar, a renowned Scottish artist based in the North East, known for his large-scale paintings of ‘Gadgies’, or working people of the region and its industrial past.

Kristin crafts iconic images bringing Millar's characters to life on stage. Those who built the ships are portrayed not only at work but during their social time - in the pubs and at the football. These people were an integral part in the economic boom time of the North East. Using movement influenced by the paintings, and informed by research with workers from the ship-building industry, Launch Day is a celebration of North East life, its culture and the industry that represents its past, present and future.

With stunning large-scale projections of Millar’s paintings, powerful, athletic and evocative choreography and a soundtrack featuring music by Mark Knopfler and composer Breifne Holohan, the work will enchant anyone who has an interest in the industrial history of the North East and will also be enjoyable and entertaining to those new to dance.

Forking Spoons

This is a solo piece created in response to the exhibition 'Re-framing the Domestic in Irish Art' at the Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda, Ireland where Kristin grew up. Kristin has approached this idea of the domestic in a fun and quirky way. Taking the image of the 1950’s style housewife with their perfect house, perfect husband and perfect appearance, Kristin has turned it upside-down. Life has certainly moved on since those days, yet women are still portrayed this way in the media, especially in TV adverts for cleaning products.

This piece is a comedic take on the beauty queen vision of the ‘domestic goddess’, with darker undertones of loss and nostalgia woven throughout.

Divine Bodies

Commissioned by the Laing Art Gallery, this solo work is a response to their exhibition Divine Bodies. This work was filmed and projected at the Laing for the duration of the exhibition.

Divine Bodies

- Revisited

A development of the solo work Divine Bodies in collaboration with photographer Tina Wotherspoon. A photography exhibition and dance performance at Dance City in November 2013.

This is Wiff Waff

This piece is an interpretation of the visual art of Trevor Price. First performed as part of the Fresh platform at Dance City, this work was performed at The Biscuit Factory as part of the Late Shows in 2013