Preview: 5 soldiers dance performance takes audience to heart of the action

On Friday May 6 and Saturday May 7 the production, by Rosie Kay Dance Company, is presented in partnership with the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles at Penicuik’s Glencorse Barracks. Young dancers from the Borders and Penicuik are already hard at work creating a new dance that will be performed as a curtain-raiser to the performance on Saturday 7 May.

5 Soldiers was created by Edinburgh-born Rosie Kay, and the high-octane performance gives a powerful insight into what makes young people into soldiers, prepared for the sheer physicality of combat, for the possibility of injury and the impact conflict has on body and mind.

It has a powerful physicality, moments of humour and is full of honesty, all inspired by input from serving and former soldiers.

To fully understand the impact of war, Kay undertook an intense period of field research. She joined The 4th Battalion The Rifles for two weeks and experienced full battle exercises on Dartmoor and Salisbury Plain. She then visited a military rehabilitation centre to see the effects of conflict and training on the soldiers’ bodies.

5 SOLDIERS has an extensive community engagement programme in each area, working with local communities, service personnel and their families, young people and veterans, which culminates in a community performance prior to the performance on the Saturday night. On the Friday nights, there will be a post-performance Q&A.

The production was named Top dance of 2015 by The Guardian, The Observer and The Independent and Rosie Kay Dance Company was named Best Independent Company at the 2015 Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards.

For more information, including tour dates and box office info, see http://www.5soldiers.co.uk/