Nijinsky's Last Jump | michaeldaviot

NIJINSKY'S LAST JUMP REVIEW EXCERPTS

‘Michael Daviot’s script takes us right to the heart of the man in ways few others have managed…. By the end, you get a feeling that somewhere, Nijinsky is saying: “Finally, someone understands”. **** The Scotsman

‘….devastating…. exploring Nijinsky’s schizophrenia and the years of cruel treatment he endured in asylums.’

**** The Skinny

‘…. an engaging meditation on the mysteries of creativity and madness…. featuring an artful text by Michael Daviot, the piece presents an entirely humanizing portrait of a 20th century dance legend.’ **** The List

‘Graced with insightful and sometimes poetically rhythmic text by Michael Daviot….By its close Nijinsky’s Last Jump shapes up into a memorably tender but unsentimental portrait of the love and loss of self.’ **** The Times

‘….this impeccably researched piece in which genius and insanity, youth and age speak to each and make perfect sense.’ ***** The Guardian

‘Old Nijinsky and Young Nijinsky, bound together and yet divided, two halves of the same person, explore their remembered past…. We hear of the horrific and seemingly never-ending ‘remedies’ to which he was subjected: we see some of the physical and mental effort that went into creating “a language of movement for our time – no sentiment, just ideas in pure movement” and are left wondering “does feeling too little make you sane?”….. the show simply has to be seen!’ ***** SG Fringe

‘….with text by Michael Daviot –Nijinsky’s Last Jump makes the inner thoughts of the old Nijinsky into a poignant flesh and blood dialogue with his younger, dancing self (Darren Brownlie). Even if his story is unfamiliar, this bitter-sweet account still compels with its details of Nijinsky’s treatment – the blitz of medication, the insulin shocks – Over-arching all this, as both text and choreographic sequences seamlessly bring to life, is the harrowing prospect of a visionary, radical artist denied a future at the age of 29….’ ***** Herald Scotland