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| West End's ex-Limelight Club transforms into arts venue | West End's ex-Limelight Club transforms into arts venue |
| (4 days later) | |
| You are walking along central London's Shaftesbury Avenue. | You are walking along central London's Shaftesbury Avenue. |
| Among the bright lights of the West End theatres and the brash noise of the traffic-jammed double-decker buses, you would be forgiven for not noticing the modest entrance to a former chapel. | Among the bright lights of the West End theatres and the brash noise of the traffic-jammed double-decker buses, you would be forgiven for not noticing the modest entrance to a former chapel. |
| Wedged unassumingly between a bank and redbrick office block, many tourists pass by unaware of its multifarious 100-year history, which has seen it go through various incarnations, from a residence of reverence to a destination for decadence. | Wedged unassumingly between a bank and redbrick office block, many tourists pass by unaware of its multifarious 100-year history, which has seen it go through various incarnations, from a residence of reverence to a destination for decadence. |
| In the 1980s, the former Welsh Presbyterian church, built in 1888 by James Cubitt, took a detour from the divine, to become the hedonistic Limelight nightclub, hosting the likes of Boy George and Duran Duran. | In the 1980s, the former Welsh Presbyterian church, built in 1888 by James Cubitt, took a detour from the divine, to become the hedonistic Limelight nightclub, hosting the likes of Boy George and Duran Duran. |
| The Grade II-listed building later became an Australian-themed bar, then a squat, but in 2011, the venue was bought by an anonymous philanthropist - and is set to become one of the West End's most unusual performance art venues. | The Grade II-listed building later became an Australian-themed bar, then a squat, but in 2011, the venue was bought by an anonymous philanthropist - and is set to become one of the West End's most unusual performance art venues. |
| But for the next week, the building hosts a site-immersive performance that offers a unique opportunity to see the venue in its stripped-back form before it is redeveloped. | But for the next week, the building hosts a site-immersive performance that offers a unique opportunity to see the venue in its stripped-back form before it is redeveloped. |
| Non-linear | Non-linear |
| The New Movement Collective has produced Nest - a performance inspired by Homer's epic poem The Odyssey - which allows audiences explore the winding shadowed stairways and hidden caverns of the building, guided by dance, live music, animation and interactive light technology. | The New Movement Collective has produced Nest - a performance inspired by Homer's epic poem The Odyssey - which allows audiences explore the winding shadowed stairways and hidden caverns of the building, guided by dance, live music, animation and interactive light technology. |
| Malgorzata Dzierzion, who produced and performs in the show, said: "As soon as we looked around the building, we realised every room had potential. | |
| "We took Homer's Odyssey but scattered its themes around the building. | "We took Homer's Odyssey but scattered its themes around the building. |
| "We designed the performance so the entire audience has a chance to see every space," she added. | "We designed the performance so the entire audience has a chance to see every space," she added. |
| Dzierzion says she wanted to create an experience akin to the popular 80s Choose Your Own Adventure books, where readers made choices to determine the plot's outcome. | |
| The performance incorporates The Odyssey's themes including vanity, hospitality and the elements - but tells the tale in a non-linear way. | The performance incorporates The Odyssey's themes including vanity, hospitality and the elements - but tells the tale in a non-linear way. |
| You are free to roam around building's three floors and admire the elegance of its architecture, but also wander along its dark, eerie corridors. | You are free to roam around building's three floors and admire the elegance of its architecture, but also wander along its dark, eerie corridors. |
| Video projection | Video projection |
| The audience explores its chambers and basement crypt, and wonders what hidden secrets - shocking or serene - will confront them around each corner. | The audience explores its chambers and basement crypt, and wonders what hidden secrets - shocking or serene - will confront them around each corner. |
| The dancers' dexterous bodies guide smoothly over the venue's walls and floors and the entire experience is palpable, with a gossamer of separation between cast and audience. | The dancers' dexterous bodies guide smoothly over the venue's walls and floors and the entire experience is palpable, with a gossamer of separation between cast and audience. |
| You may suddenly find yourself face to face with a dancer feeling their breath on your neck as they look you in the eye. | You may suddenly find yourself face to face with a dancer feeling their breath on your neck as they look you in the eye. |
| You can interact with the performers as much as you want, and at one point even feed them if you desire. | You can interact with the performers as much as you want, and at one point even feed them if you desire. |
| The use of lighting is at times menacing - with strobes and lasers harking back to the heady days of the Limelight - but on other occasions it is serene - using smoke and reflections to create ambience. | The use of lighting is at times menacing - with strobes and lasers harking back to the heady days of the Limelight - but on other occasions it is serene - using smoke and reflections to create ambience. |
| Robin McNicholas, from Marshmallow Laser Feast, which designed the show's lighting, said: "The objective was to use lasers and video projection in a subtle way without detracting from the story. | Robin McNicholas, from Marshmallow Laser Feast, which designed the show's lighting, said: "The objective was to use lasers and video projection in a subtle way without detracting from the story. |
| "Sometimes it is bold, but often it is about what you choose not to include that achieves the effect desired." | "Sometimes it is bold, but often it is about what you choose not to include that achieves the effect desired." |
| The soundtrack, ranging from a classical score to dark electronic beats, adds to the atmosphere, as does the dirt, dampness, loose electric cabling and musty smells of the venue in is current state. | The soundtrack, ranging from a classical score to dark electronic beats, adds to the atmosphere, as does the dirt, dampness, loose electric cabling and musty smells of the venue in is current state. |
| Performer Jonathan Goddard explained how the show is a unique opportunity to see the building in its current condition, stripped back, before it is refurbished. | Performer Jonathan Goddard explained how the show is a unique opportunity to see the building in its current condition, stripped back, before it is refurbished. |
| "We've been working on a building site," he said. "It's magical that we have this small window of opportunity to see the space in this state." | "We've been working on a building site," he said. "It's magical that we have this small window of opportunity to see the space in this state." |
| So what lies ahead for the former chapel? | So what lies ahead for the former chapel? |
| Stone Nest, which hopes to open a permanent performance space in the building, is expecting a decision on its planning application from Westminster City Council next month. | Stone Nest, which hopes to open a permanent performance space in the building, is expecting a decision on its planning application from Westminster City Council next month. |
| "Stone Nest will not be a conventional theatre space, nor do we intend it to be," said its producer Hannah Myers. | "Stone Nest will not be a conventional theatre space, nor do we intend it to be," said its producer Hannah Myers. |
| "Our mission to promote experimental, unexpected and daring artistic practice and to bring it to a wide audience." | "Our mission to promote experimental, unexpected and daring artistic practice and to bring it to a wide audience." |
| It sounds like Nest may be a taster of things to come for the venue. | It sounds like Nest may be a taster of things to come for the venue. |
| Nest is running at Stone Nest until 24 July. | Nest is running at Stone Nest until 24 July. |