Palingenesis” by Taiwanese company D_Antidote Production, showing at The Coronet Theatre, has been four years in the conception, and the result is well worth the wait.

The inspiration for Palingenesis comes from the bizarre phenomenon known as a ‘rat king’, where a group of rats become tangled together by their tails, sometimes so tightly that they are forced to move and function as one. It’s an intriguing idea that raises some interesting questions. How independent are we really? And how much are we shaped by the people around us and the relationships we form?

These ideas are brought to life through some extraordinary movement. The three performers seem almost joined together, twisting, folding and flowing into one another. It’s often hard to work out where one body ends and another begins. They move with incredible understanding, as if they instinctively know what the others are about to do. At times, they even appear to breathe as one.

There are occasional moments when each performer breaks away and becomes an individual, but these don’t last long before they are drawn back into the group. Some of the positions they adopt are remarkably intimate, but there is nothing uncomfortable or gratuitous about them. Instead, what comes across is an incredible level of trust and understanding between the performers.

The physical demands of this piece are quite astonishing. One moment they are moving sensually around each other, the next they are throwing themselves onto the floor with tremendous force. Their strength, flexibility and control are extraordinary. They bend and twist into shapes you wouldn’t think possible, drop into incredibly deep squats and create amazing patterns. Watching them respond so instinctively to one another is almost hypnotic. Everything seems to happen without the slightest hesitation.

When the three eventually separate, the atmosphere changes and their movements take on a new momentum, accompanied by a brighter soundtrack, almost as if discovering the world around them for the first time.

The lighting adds greatly to the atmosphere, with low-level spotlights creating plenty of shadows and mystery. The music is equally effective, shifting between haunting, atmospheric sounds, soaring strings and hypnotic, pulsing rhythm. Towards the end, as the performers return to their original positions, the lighting becomes brighter and delicate piano notes introduce a gentler feeling, suggesting rebirth and new beginnings.

Palingenesis, which means regeneration or rebirth, is a spellbinding 40-minute experience. You don’t need to be a dance expert to appreciate it. In fact, it’s the sheer physical skill and the fascinating way these three performers work together that make it so absorbing.

An unusual, beautifully executed and compelling piece of theatre that leaves you thinking about just how connected we all are.

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

Five Stars.

Showing at The Coronet Theatre until the 31^st October 2026

For tickets and further details see link below

https://www.thecoronettheatre.com/whats-on/d-antidote-palingenesis/

Cast and Creatives

Choreography: Chuang Po-Hsiang

Dancers: Liao Chien-Yao, Ong Kuan-Ying, Lin Ying-Ting

Sound & Music Design: Printed Noise Lab (Ho Kung-Shan)

Video Design: Yeh Che

Stage Design: Wu Tzu-Ching

Props Design: Chen Lo-Fan

Lighting Design: Chen Ta-Tsan