Set in a psychiatric hospital and delving into the mind of a resident patient, Adrienne Hart's Falling from Trees explores how a neurological disease can alter your sense of self and relationship to the world and people around you.

Inspired by the work of neurologist Oliver Sacks, Adrienne has created her own dance narrative based on her research of several neurological disorders. Sacks’ popular book titled The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and one particular short story of a man with visual agnosia served as a catalyst for the development of Falling From Trees.

"Highly articulate… an ambitious piece and powerful in its content" Josephine Leask (Guardian)

Falling From Trees features video projection by filmmaker Alice Powell (National Film and Television School) and original music composed by the critically acclaimed composer Peter Broderick. ‘A songwriter of beguiling depth' – Sunday Times

"Adrienne told me from the beginning she was looking for a score of piano and strings. So I decided to take this literally and make a rule not to use any other instruments. In the script it called for a ticking clock. I made this sound by tapping on the body of the violin with myfingernails. The sound of an electric shock given to the patient is depicted by a quick, distorted piano chord"

 

Image credits - top line and bottom left: Dwiko Arie; bottom right: James Clare

Falling From Trees 2010 from Neon Productions on Vimeo.