Presented by Cathy Waller Company, this ambitious work brings together live performance, film and photography to create a deeply human and visually striking experience to invite audiences into a shared space of reflection, empathy and connection.
Laura Lloyd, Sales and Marketing Manager at The Mill Arts Centre, spoke with Choreographer Cathy Waller to find out more about the inspiration behind the show.
What inspired you to create You & Us blending artforms?
It was two things really, the first being the artistic challenge. I wanted to step beyond my usual ways of creating dance for stage or outdoor audiences and push myself into something a bit unknown. The second was the story behind the work. I wanted to explore different visual forms so the ideas could reach more people and allow more audiences to see themselves reflected in it.
How did drawing on the lived experiences of more than 400 collaborators shape the piece?
Listening to people’s experiences of invisibility was incredibly powerful. The project began with my own reflections of being disabled and that largely being invisible to others, and how that shapes the way I move through the world day to day. But as I began speaking with friends and colleagues, I realised that the feeling of carrying something unseen reaches far beyond my own experience.
What stayed with me most during the process was how often people spoke about empathy. If we could hold onto that – that sense of shared humanity – perhaps there would be less struggle and more understanding. The work has become a reflection of that, a reminder that we are often more alike than we realise.
Did filmingacross National Trust sites in Dorset add to the sense of scale and visibility?
Interestingly, the scale and beauty of the landscapes intensified the themes of invisibility and isolation within the film. Standing in these vast, open spaces makes you feel both connected to the world and incredibly small within it, which mirrored many of the emotions explored in the work.
How does the collaboration with MOBO Award-winning musician Lewis Wright influence the physicality and rhythm of the live performance?
Music sits at the heart of how I create movement, so working with Lewis has had a huge influence on the physical language of the piece. Almost everything I choreograph begins with the way music makes me feel – something instinctive and human that sparks the desire to move.
How important is it that audiences encounter multiple perspectives on neurodivergence and being truly seen?
Having multiple voices allows audiences to encounter different perspectives and ways of seeing. If we can remember that everyone is navigating something, perhaps we can be slower to judge and more open to allowing people – and ourselves – the space to simply be who we are.
You & Us will be live on stage on Wednesday 13th May at The Mill Arts Centre, and tickets are available to book now. Visit our website or pick up our What’s On Guide to discover what’s on at your local theatre!
Full details of our programme are available at www.themillartscentre.co.uk. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone 01295 279002, or pop into our Box Office in person at The Mill Arts Centre, Spiceball Park Road, Banbury OX16 5QE. The Mill is open 9:30am–4:30pm Monday-Saturday with hot and cold drinks and light refreshments available from the Café Bar.
