Browse reviews

FringeReview Scotland 2025

World’s Evolution

THREE60

Genre: Dance and Movement Theatre, Hip Hop

Venue: Platform, Easterhouse, Glasgow

Festival:


Low Down

As the title of the piece suggests, this is about the origin of life. Intimacy is beautifully choreographed in sections which follow the narrative arc of world’s evolution. With video projections as a backdrop it intrigues, draws you in and mostly enhances the storyline and challenge we have in front of us.

Review

Taking us from the beginning of life, through to modern times asking questions of our natural development, the structure of World’s Evolution, has a little bit of an issue at the ending.  Whilst technically with use of video and the projection it has a very strong modern feeling to it with a sense of immediacy from the beginning, I also found the visuals felt a little stock rather than personal.

But these are minor ailments in a dynamic piece of theatre which tracked the illnesses of our age but also the medicine of our souls. It is not the execution of the spectacular, but the discipline of the intimate which is so incredibly impressive.

At the beginning there was a lone voice asking for support from the audience allowing for that up-tempo beginning in a participative manner for this massive crowd who turned up at The Platform to support.

You can see why they elicit such response because their enthusiasm for performance in front of a dance literate audience is for some intimidating, but here it is exhilarating. Such a high degrees of skill when they do get on stage is just as promised – high octane, relentless but never without moments of charm.

As we get to more modern times, especially when we went into Africa I felt was when it was at its strongest. It began with the emergence of a single white figure that anchored that narrative structure, and when they were joined by figures in black their interaction really did push the dance narrative to a new level. It allowed for us to hang our hat metaphorically upon how that relationship would drive us through to the next stage of their story.

When the video work became more integrated, I felt that boldness matched the choreography. In particular the section which had “The Search Within” and “Find Your Light” was a really strong element. The costume started as monochrome and muted. once we get more modern and especially into Africa, it became much more colourful. That vibrancy was particularly good as we got a physical nod to the more challenging times but also a reminder of how we should connect and learn with not just our ancestors but take on more of the more basic joy we have around us.

The ending, I felt was difficult, as did the audience, because they received three rounds of applause. I thought that “You think” in words and dance was a strong finish. The piece which followed was equally strong as a crescendo, but it was now in the shadow of what I thought was a natural ending.

Having said that theatrically 360 seriously have not only taken the stage but stormed it with such technically able and gifted artists. What we saw was hip-hop at its best, body popping at its best, Scottish dance at its best where I was enthralled at the diversity on stage. I felt the vibrancy and the ability transcend my expectation to the point where I felt proud not just to be a Scot but also proud to have such a multicultural example of what is happening within my own community. It was a fantastic piece to watch. This was the best that I’ve seen for some considerable time in this genre.

Published

Show Website

THREE60