A fan sitting next to me last night described Blakey’s work as removing your internal organs, squishing them up, putting them back and showing what it’s like to be human. Make of that what you will, but Blakey is no stranger to controversy and Would with Teeth is no exception.

This new work, part of a longer piece, Lo, due to be released in 2026, is taken from Blakey’s forgotten memories of a childhood year spent in a mental health institution.

There is no storyline as such but rather a fantasy conceived as a nursery rhyme. A series of uncanny squirming images where the 10 dancers split into groups of one two and three, performing separately but forming a cohesive whole. The pace is feverish with rapid transitions.

Gwilynm Gold’s musical score begins with a haunting sigh. A lone dancer, whose facial image bears a strong resemblance to The Scream by Munsch, stands centre stage. The music is loud with intense visceral beats, sighing vocals and loud playground sounds.

Michael Josephs fantastical costume designs, women with skirts tucked into their underwear or have large peepholes showing their buttocks, men in cut off doublets, baby bonnets, nappies and sequins are a perfect match to Gold’s score and Blakey’s unique style.

In contrast, the second piece, Phantom is a much more accessible. Originally planned as a stage piece, turned into a film during lock down and now rethought for the stage. Created after Blakey’s miscarriage, it is a pulsing fertility ritual, vibrating bodies both sensual and tormented.

Chopova Lowena’s costumes are vivid with plaid kilts and bright lurex.  A woman lies in centre stage howling in pain, is she in labour or having an orgasm. Gold’s music is a much more intense and builds rhythmically to the finale where the dance sequence snaps to an abrupt end.

4 stars

Reviewed by Nina Gardner.

For tickets, please see link below
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/holly-blakey-a-wound-with-teeth-

Photo credit Natasha Back.

Creatives
Holly Blakey director and choreographer
Gwilym Gold Music
Joshie Harriette lighting
Matthew Josephs Costumes
Chopova Lowena   (Phantom) costumes and styling
Sharia Johnson rehearsal director
Metal & Water lead performance and tour production
Ben Totty, BOX Artist Management talent manager and executive producer

Dancers
Chester Hayes,
Grace Jabbari,
Liana Kleinman,
Sari Mizoe,
Elisabeth Mulenga,
Luigi Nardone,
Moronfoluwa Odimayo,
Violet Savage,
Naomi Weijand,
Fenglin Yang