Globally acclaimed choreographer Sisco Gomez (So You Think You Can Dance, The Voice, The X Factor) and Kate Duhamel bring their Hip Hop theatre show, Fray, to London for its UK premiere.
FRAY fuses world-class dance, music, and digital visuals to tell a story about two deeply bonded brothers navigating competing passions for Hip Hop dancing and for the shared world of adventure they discover inside of video games as over time, their bond frays when the older brother is lured away by dark forces.
Fray is at Wilton’s Music Hall 24th – 26th July 2023.
You’re bringing FRAY to Wilton’s Music Hall, what can you tell us about the show?
FRAY is a live hip hop dance show that is part of a larger transmedia project that also includes a video game for PC’s that is in development and a mobile game, “FRAY Jam.” The live show and games tell a story about two deeply bonded brothers, Tullio and Ziya, who are navigating competing passions for hip hop dancing and for the shared world of adventure they discover inside of video games as perilous real-life influences cause their bond to fray.
Large screen visuals portray the games that first light up their imaginations with colourful landscapes and imaginary characters who inspire and challenge them, much like the people they meet in the real world outside. As their story plays out across the years, the younger brother, Tullio finds himself in a real life quest where there is no analog game controller for real people, and steering his older brother away from the dark forces that attract him can’t be programmed into a computer. He must dig deep to find a power within himself mighty enough to turn fear into hope for them both.
The story is told through music, dance, voice, and large screen visuals that portray the worlds in which the brothers live, and the games that light up their imaginations.
What inspired this new work?
I wanted to tell the FRAY story because it’s real and thought-provoking, and I hope it creates a sense of connection for the audience. We also wanted FRAY to be inspiring, not only for the quality and creativity of the performance on stage, but also for the message it leaves you with to consider. When I set out to create a live dance show from an original story, and to work with hip hop, I brainstormed ideas with a dancer in the US with whom I had worked previously on film and live performance projects.
As ideas took shape over several months, we found that we shared the experience of loving someone who is struggling in some way, and that experience began to resonate deeply as the core dramatic challenge in the story. It has been gratifying over the course of developing this project to witness the connection that the many collaborators have found with the story, and that audiences have shared with us after seeing it.
At one point, video games were mentioned off hand, and it struck me as a creative way to tell some parts of the story on stage. As I continued to hone the story, games continued to emerge as the central passion and the private and exciting world the two main characters share. For me, the role that games play in this story was one of those experiences that writers have of feeling like the story is finding them rather than the other way around.
Why do you think video games and Hip Hop dancing go so well together?
Games are a natural extension of the theatre experience because it gives fans another entry point to the story. In our game, players can literally step into the shoes of the main character, Tullio, as they attempt to dance their way through four levels, earning points by moving on the beat, and gaining energy to solve puzzles and dance battle challenges to save the older brother.
Our game is a “rhythm” game, meaning the music provides the beat that players must move to, so it’s very similar to hip hop dancing. Also, I’ve been amazed by how many hip hop dancers play video games. I think they like letting their fingers do the dancing when their bodies need a rest.
It’s been a fruitful journey working with a game studio in Spain to build the FRAY game for PC’s. It’s a big undertaking and the game is still in development, so we decided to bring to life one of the short games that the brothers build for a contest in the story on stage. “FRAY Jam” is a mobile game available for free in app stores now and audiences are invited to play on their own devices before the show.
You’re bringing modern technology to the world’s oldest music hall; how do you think they’ll complement each other?
Wilton’s Music Hall is iconic, comfortable, and going there is an experience in itself. You can feel the history the minute you walk in. While our show may seem like a contrast given the modern game element, the most important thing we are doing is telling a very human story about the love between two brothers. Wilton’s is a storied place for storytelling on stage, and the technology aspects of the FRAY show are creative elements all in the service of a great story,
What was the biggest challenge for you as a choreographer working on Fray?
The biggest challenge has been Time. Teaching choreography to a cast is always an exciting process. Seeing how everyone’ s character comes to life is my favourite part. All the sections that we need in between dance scenes are the most important sections because those are the moments that carry the storyline BUT these moments take so much time to create. Before you know it – rehearsal time is done and it’s showtime! A very exciting feeling but scary at the same time.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Fray?
FRAY is a dynamic dance show that is energetic, current and powerful. The mix of art forms is surprising, so the experience feels like a new embodiment of dance theatre. We also aim to create a great social evening for fans, so there will be fun activity in the theatre before and after the show as collaborators and influencers will be there to talk with fans, take photos, help fans make videos with FRAY characters in them, and enjoy music.
Get ready to see an explosion and celebration of dance. The FRAY cast is gonna let you have it!
