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The Chess Piece

Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company bring chess to life through music, dance and theatre- all on a giant chessboard covering Derry's Guildhall floor.

Echo Echo Dance
23 June 2010 - 4:21pm
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Echo Echo dancers rehearsing for The Chess Piece

Echo Echo dancers rehearsing for The Chess Piece

Derry’s Guildhall shines as Echo Echo dancers and local people bring chess to life

Northern Ireland’s leading dance company and Derry-based, Echo Echo will bring a chess
game to life on a giant chessboard this week with the help of local children
and adults from around the city.

Confirming the city’s extensive arts talent, Echo Echo will perform ‘The Chess Piece’ in Londonderry’s historic Guildhall building from
Wednesday 23rd to Saturday 26th June every evening at 8pm
with a 3pm matinee on Saturday.

A mix of professional dancers and workshop participants of
all ages and backgrounds will take on the roles of the chess characters for
this ambitious production, using dance and theatre alongside original music
from the talented Rea Curran -ex-member of Duke Special’s band.

The 32 eccentric
characters playfully explore themes of
competition, territory, power, difference and similarity - taking you on
a colourful journey around the world with
movement and costume inspired by different cultures.

Artistic Director of
Echo Echo, Steve Batts said: “It is going to be really good fun, for the 32
performers and for the audience too. It is really special to have 95% of the
people involved from the Derry area. I can't wait to see the magic that
choreographer Ayesha Mailey will bring to the giant chessboard made up of 64
one and a half metre, black and white squares covering the floor of the
Guildhall’s main hall.”

The entire building will
be animated with help from In Your Space Events Management, who specialise in street
performance, circus skills and clowning.

Which side does each character
belong to and how long will they stay in the game? For chess is a game of hide and seek, it is a game
of strategy and ultimately it’s a game of war. It’s not over until checkmate!

Performances will be
running from Wednesday 23rd to Saturday 26th June with
shows at 8pm and a 3pm Saturday matinee. Tickets cost £8 per adult and £4 per
child and are available at www.wegottickets.com.

The Chess Piece is part of the
company’s Into Contact programme, which is funded by the Legacy Trust UK’s
Connections Programme and managed by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The Chess Piece is also funded by Derry City Council and has been
granted the Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire
Programme.

Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee
of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, provided his endorsement for the
project. He said:  “The Chess Piece is encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to
fulfil their potential. I am proud that with the help of partners such as Echo Echo Dance Theatre
Company, who are delivering on our vision to use the power of the
Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in dance and sport.”

Full details at www.echoechodance.com

Echo Echo Dance | 23 June 2010 - 4:21pm |
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