Writer and Director: Tani Gill
Stuck in a spaceship in the distant future, endlessly haunted by the past, hidden lies and unknown truths come to life when the question is asked: what is it that makes us human?
Jupiter’s Ghost investigates this isolated world through a mixture of high-stakes drama and dance. Written and directed by famed dancer Tani Gill, this science-fiction theatrical piece takes to the stage of the Cockpit in London with an ensemble of actors and dancers.
Set within a spaceship laboratory, Dr. Elias Cretè, played by Conor Pavitt, has conducted experiments to recreate original humans that would be able to repopulate a desolate Earth. In this day and age, every being is part-human part-android, enhanced with a little bit of artificial intelligence, so the creation of a “pure” human is an unheard-of prospect. The creation of the subject Jupiter 101 ( actor and dancer Olivia J. Night) cannot help but pique the interest of Elias’ curious son Jove ( Jack Chambers), who tries to connect with the test subject despite their differences.
Gill’s science-fiction world is rich but at times difficult to discern, with much of the stakes and background of the story merely hinted at and not given their full due exploration. Certain elements could be seen as plot holes in the story, but these deficiencies do not necessarily ruin the emotional impact of the story.
The use of dance is both poignant and baffling. The moments when Night dances as the character of Jupiter 101 are heartfelt and uplifting, as she is embracing a sense of freedom in her body, but the moments of dance heralded by Lola Kinard are hard to determine their relevancy. If anything, a deeper integration of dance within all of the characters would elevate the piece massively
Jupiter’s Ghost poses a number of intriguing questions wrapped up into a science-fiction fable, but its use of dance and story elements could be better implemented to craft a more cohesive theatrical experience.
Runs until 23 June 2024
