Death Trap - Ben Duke (Rambert)

Sadler’s Well’s Theatre, 58-60 Hampstead Road, London, EC1R 4TN, England 

Reviewed by Khalia Willett 

Death Trap is a symbol of the weird, emotive journey we all go through as we move through our life and how dance fits into that. The piece is influenced by the icon Nina Simone, and throughout the production, Ben Duke cleverly channels the spirit of Nina through his choreographic and audial choices. The piece hosts a range of live instruments and vocals that embellish the obscure movements, contributing to the steady building of tension that grasps your attention and takes you on a wild ride. The percussion instruments accent the linear movements, acting as a catalyst surging through the body of the performers, exacerbating the shapes that the dancers are creating in line with each stage of the journey. Ben is very clever in his transfer of intention to create a satire that captivates you in moments that make you laugh, paired with other moments that make you feel confused and quite awkward. It takes a certain level of artistry to truly bring your intention to life in a way that is understood universally while keeping the energy and mood light and jovial. 

This is a funny journey through life and through death

Each and every aspect of the production has been meticulously thought about from costume through to the seamless lighting transitions. The careful use of white lighting encroaches on each and every corner of the stage, paired with the use of soft spotlights and bright colors, this eloquently commands your attention to key moments in the piece. In addition to this there are subtle nods to Greek mythology among other cultural references that you just catch in the perfect amount of time before your attention is directed somewhere else on the stage. Aligned with the costume choices, donning a 60’s/70’s vibe at the beginning that gradually develops as you journey through the production. Each costume exemplifies the choreography without hindering the dancers, allowing everyone to lengthen their movements to their full level extension, while allowing room to contort and move the body in unnatural ways without creating unflattering shadows. 

Death Trap is a fun-loving, brilliant production I would highly recommend for those who are starting their journey into theatre and exploring contemporary and urban dance styles in places outside of the studio. At times, dance theatre can be quite heavy and political in some cases, whereas what Rambert have done is create a family-friendly, lighthearted experience that is emotive but not sad, which is an integral part of how you receive Ben’s wacky perception of the journey through life and death.