The Coronet Theatre is a reimagined architectural and design jewel, originally built as a grand Victorian Playhouse, now a pioneering home for international, cross-disciplinary arts. Curated by Artistic Director Anda Winters, over the past decade it has become a significant cultural landmark.
Known for world and UK premieres, its mission is to bring artists and art forms from around the world, championing work that would not otherwise be seen. The programme enables access for diverse audiences to world-class theatre, dance, music, film and visual arts through co-productions, commissions, and invited works.
Centrally situated in London’s Notting Hill, The Coronet has two main spaces: The Auditorium and The Print Room Studio. With the additional performances and exhibitions in the bar, the atmospheric upper rooms, and basements, the whole building is a living global showcase.
Photo by Miles Hart
Photo by Miles Hart
NEON DANCE
LAST AND FIRST MEN
26 - 28 Feb
Neon Dance presents a contemporary dance work set to the backdrop of Johann Jóhannsson‘s 16mm black and white film, with specially recorded narration from Tilda Swinton and a mesmerising orchestral score composed by Jóhannsson and Yair Elazar Gotman.
Last and First Men takes Olaf Stapledon’s visionary 1930 sci-fi novel and transforms it into a deeply moving exploration of humanity’s dystopian future.The film’s vast, surreal imagery becomes a stage for movement.
A future race of humans finds itself on the verge of extinction. Almost all that’s left in the world are lone and surreal monuments, beaming their message into the wilderness.The last remnants of humanity –the last men – reach back across two billion years to speak to us, the first men.
Striking choreography breathes life into this haunting vision of a world beyond our own – one shaped by extraordinary abilities, new possibilities, and profound difference.
Led by choreographer Adrienne Hart, Neon Dance presents a compelling hybrid performance featuring world renowned dance artists Fukiko Takase, Aoi Nakamura, and Kelvin Kilonzo, with costume artefacts from the award winning Ana Rajčević.
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Created by
Concept & Direction
Film
Musical Direction
Composition
Choreography
Dance Performance
Lighting Design
Costume Design
Artefacts
Technical Production
Management
Photography
Graphic Design (for Neon Dance)
Neon Dance
Adrienne Hart
Jóhann Jóhannsson
Yair Elazar Glotman
Jóhann Jóhannsson & Yair Elazar Glotman
Adrienne Hart in collaboration with Fukiko Takase, Kelvin Kilonzo, Aoi Nakamura & Makiko Aoyama
Fukiko Takase, Kelvin Kilonzo
& Aoi Nakamura
Nico De Rooij
Mikio Sakabe & Ana Rajcevic
Ana Rajcevic
Frazer Riches
Miles Hart
Naile Muslu
International Tour Management Disk Agency / Remco Schuurbiers
Communications Coordinator Clair Donnelly
Project Management
Supported by
Funded by
Maeve O’Neill
CTM Festival Berlin, Sadler’s Wells, Swindon Dance, Pavilion Dance South West
Arts Council England
POST-SHOW TALK
Join us on Fri 27 Feb for a post-show Q&A with choreographer Adrienne Hart and the dancers of Last and First Men.This event is free for ticket holders.
NEON DANCE WORKSHOP
On Sat 28 Feb, dance artist Fukiko Takase will lead an exclusive free 90 minute workshop for professional and semi-professional dance artists, dancers, full-time dance students aged 18 and above, and movement enthusiasts. Booking required but free for ticket holders.
Photo by Miles Hart
Photo by Miles Hart
ONE BOOK, ONE FILM, ONE DANCE PIECE:
HOW LAST AND FIRST MEN CAME TO LIFE
BY ADRIENNE HART, FOUNDER OF NEON DANCE
Last and First Men is a story about humanity - who we are, where we ’ ve come from, and what might be left of us far into the future. It looks at civilisation from a distance and asks what survives when time, climate, and history have done their work.
But it’s more than just a story. It feels strangely relevant right now, with questions about responsibility, legacy, and how we treat the planet quietly running through it.
First though - and don’t worry, I’ll be brief - to understand Last and First Men, you need to understand its timeline.This work exists because of a relay of ideas passed between some pretty extraordinary minds.
It started with Olaf Stapledon, a philosopher and sci-fi writer, who published the novel Last and First Men in 1930. It’s not sci-fi as we know it now - no heroes, no villains - more a vast thought experiment about humanity over billions of years. Strange, beautiful, and surprisingly tender.
Decades later, Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson became fascinated by the book. He created a powerful orchestral score inspired by it, which eventually evolved into a film - also called Last and First Men. Jóhannsson wasn’t just a composer; he was a storyteller and filmmaker, with a remarkable ability to pull in collaborators. He invited Tilda Swinton to narrate the film, and she said yes - lending her voice to the future of humanity with incredible restraint and gravity.
Tragically, Jóhannsson died before the film was completed. His close collaborator, Yair Elazar Glotman, finished the score with immense care, staying true to his vision.That sense of devotion and continuity is something I feel deeply connected to in this work.
The music is what first pulled me in. It’s sci-fi without spectacleexpansive, atmospheric, and deeply emotional.The kind of sound that gives you space to think. I could see bodies inside it immediately.
There’s a wealth of extraordinary films that could be set to dance, but I chose Last and First Men because it doesn’t spell everything out. It leaves gaps. And dance lives beautifully in those gaps. Movement can respond to feeling rather than plot - to scale, fragility, and time passing.
This piece would not exist without the extraordinary commitment of the team around me, especially the three dancers - Fukiko Takase, Kelvin Kilonzo, Aoi Nakamura - who have embodied this work with such care and intelligence at every performance since its creation. They carry the piece, night after night, and it changes each time, because of them.
And then there's the costumes! The sculptural, wearable designs by Ana Rajcevic (with contributions from Mikio Sakabe) aren’t just outfits - they become extensions of the dancers’ bodies. Offering new possibilities for movement, they shaped sections of the work in a whole new way and play a key role in the physical language of the piece.
Photo by Parcifal Werkman
Photo
by
Jan Rijk
What do I hope audiences feel? Not that they “understand” something new from the work, but that something lingers. A sense of perspective. Maybe beauty. Maybe discomfort. Something that stays with you on the Tube home.
And if you ’ re someone who thinks dance isn’t really for you this is exactly the work I’d point you to. So often I hear: “My friend got me a ticket… I’d never have thought to come - but I’m so glad I did.” You don’t need any prior knowledge. Just curiosity.
Why this work, why now? Because in just 60 minutes, Last and First Men offers something quietly enriching. When you leave, I hope you carry a little of the future with you - or at least a moment that makes you pause.That’s enough for me.
LAST AND FIRST MEN IN REHEARSAL
by Miles Hart
Photos
Photo by Camille Blake
Neon Dance
Neon Dance is an internationally renowned company that embraces a diverse and digital population; a place where artists, partners and people can engage in experiences that are experimental and original, yet accessible to all. neondance.org
Adrienne Hart
Choreography, Concept & Direction
Adrienne works internationally as a choreographer and as Artistic Director of Neon Dance. Adrienne has worked in Russia, Belgium, Norway, Germany, Kosovo, Japan, USA, and extensively in the UK. Her work has been commissioned and supported by Arts Council England, British Council, Creative England, Sadler's Wells, The Place, Modern Art Oxford, Glastonbury Festival, Reversible Destiny Foundation, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, South West Creative Technology Network, Pavilion Dance South West and
Art Front Gallery amongst others. Commissions include working with Sadler's Wells resident over 60's performance group Company of Elders and her latest work 'Puzzle Creature' invited to premiere as part of Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial (Japan). neondance.org | Instagram: @Adrienne hart
Yair Elazar Glotman
Musical Direction & Composition
Yair Elazar Glotman is a composer and a musician based in Berlin. Glotman trained in classical music as an orchestral contrabass player and in electroacoustic composition. His current focus is mostly in film composition, where he has collaborated on two oscarwinning soundtracks (Joker and All Quiet on the Western Front). His work for film as well as his independent musical releases are informed by both classical and electroacoustic traditions, and employs a range
of improvisation, extended contrabass techniques, and a special interest in textural and spatial compositions and in combining analog and digital processing. Glotman’s compositions for film and media began through his close work with the influential, late composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, most notably writing additional music for “Mandy” (2018) and co-composing “Last and First Men” (2020). He scored the A24 production "False Positive" together with cellist Lucy Railton (2021). Most recently, he scored the Netflix production “Reptile” (2023). In addition, he has worked with composers Hildur Guðnadóttir, Volker Bertelmann (Hauschka), Ben Frost, Chris Clark, Geoff Barrow & Ben Salisbury and Dustin O'halloran, and others. In addition to film and TV, he has composed for dance performances and Opera, most notably designing the Soundtrack for the Royal Opera House in London’s production “Mamzer” (2018) by Na'ama
Zisser. Alongside his work for film, Glotman regularly releases and performs his own music, under his own name as well as under projects such as KETEV and collaborations with composers Mats Erlandsson and Viktor Orri Árnason. His work has been released on notable labels including Deutsche Grammophon, 130701/Fatcat, Bedroom Community, Miasma and Subtext. He has played at numerous music and arts venues around the world, including MaerzMusik, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Volksbuehne, CTM festival, Steirischer Herbst and Atonal festival. | yairelazarglotman.com/ | Instagram: @yairelazarglotman
Nico De Rooij
Lighting Design
Studio SIDF is a multidisciplinary and award-winning design studio specializing in Scenography, Lightdesign, Photography, Architecture, Film, Performance directing
and concept development. Creating Scenic Spaces, Installations, Performances, using Set, Light, Sound and Image. Enabling participants in Scenic Productions to share ideas and techniques and/or collaborate and execute with colleagues around the world, cultural exchange and artistic partnerships. SIDF examines the nature of a script, idea, piece as a series of fundamental concerns including performance structures, performance, space and audience. The performance and visual orchestration of these elements through the development of compositional skills and the investigation of pre-production systems for performance planning, forms the basis of our preparations to the realization of productions. | https://www.studiosidf.com/
Ana Rajcevic Artefacts & Costume Design
Ana Rajcevic (DE) is an artist working at the intersection of sculpture and body-art,
focusing on different ways of altering the body through pieces called ‘prosthetic bodysculptures’. Her artistic practice confronts the question of how the ever-shifting material forms and substances in which human subjects are embodied configure understandings of ‘humanity’ itself. How is the corporeality of the body addressed when coupled with emerging technologies such as AI and gene-editing? And what is the future of the body as we transform into Chimeras? By merging human and nonhuman parts: bodies, technologies, prosthetics and materials, Rajcevic explores hybrid identities that challenge both bodily and disciplinary boundaries. Her work spans across multiple platforms that include installations, sculptures, performances and photo/video works. With a multi-disciplinary inquiry that combines experimental art and design with research in biomedicine, history, materials science, and psychology, Rajcevic creates
‘hybrid sculptures’ using most notably natural and synthetic polymers and medical biomaterials, as well as novel technologies, such as AI and biotechnologies. Ana completed her studies at the London University of the Arts (Master of Arts, 2012), and is at the moment doing PhD (Artistic Research) at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Her works have been exhibited internationally, in museums and galleries such as the Louvre (FR), Smithsonian Museum (USA), Boijmans Museum (NL), and Venice Biennale (IT), and are in the permanent collection of Design Museum den Bosch (NL). Furthermore, Rajcevic work has been published in print and digital media such as the "Independent", the "Guardian", the "Wired", the "CNN", among others. She has received multiple awards for her work, and since 2015 she has been elected member of the RSARoyal Society of Arts in London. She regularly works and collaborates within the
performing arts field, and her performance collaborations were shown in venues such as Sadler's Wells (UK), Haus der Kulturen der Welt (DE), Volkstheater (AU) and Münchner Kammerspiele (DE). | anarajcevic.com | Instagram: @anarajcevic studio
Fukiko Takase Dance Artist
Fukiko Takase was born in New York and raised in Japan where she trained with Katsuko Orita. After receiving the Cultural Affairs Fellowship from the Japanese government, she moved to Europe to study at Codarts Rotterdam Dance Academy and the London Contemporary Dance School. Fukiko then worked with the Henri Oguike and Wayne McGregor dance companies before making her way as an independent solo artist. Her work includes ʻ1001ʼ with Dustin OʼHalloran premiered in Minneapolis, USA, ʻDon Juan Techno Clubʼ with Daniel Brandt and Frieder Nagel
premiered in Nuremberg, Germany as well as performing Yoko Ono's "Cut Piece" in 2019. She featured in Thom Yorkeʼ s Atoms for Peace video ʻIngenueʼ , as well as choreographing for Daniel Brandt and Hikaru Utada. In 2018 she choreographed and toured Japan with Hikaru Utada for their 20th anniversary concert tour, performing for 140,000 people. Fukiko currently dances for Akram Khanʼ s ʻJungle Book Reimagined', and has recently become Honourable Professor for Shikoku University in 2022. | fukidance.com | Instagram: @Fukistar
Kelvin Kilonzo Dance Artist
Kelvin is a multidisciplinary performance artist based in Berlin. He has been working with Anne Imhof since 2020, he is part of Sasha Waltz & Guests, Mouvoir Company and primarily collaborates with musicians and video artists around Europe. He is also an
award-winning actor, making his debut with 'Toro' at the Berlinale in 2017 and winning his most recent Best Actor award with 'The Third King' at Revolution ME Festival New York. His most recent appearances in the series 'start the fck up ’ , ´I don’t work here‘ and 'Kroymann' are currently running on ARD and ZDF(public German TV). In 2016 he founded the performance duo SUM (prior GIW & Kilonzo) together with the experimental trumpeter and performer Pablo Giw. This connection has led to a multitude of interdisciplinary performance and video works in collaboration with institutions and artists in Europe. They currently released‚
DYSCHRONIA‘ an experimental film in collaboration with video artist Maurits Boettger, which premiered at Julia Stoschek Foundation on july 27th of this year. kkilonzo.com | Instagram: @kelvory
Aoi Nakamura Dance Artist
Aoi is a performer that started her career dancing in state theatres in Germany and went on to dance with established companies such as Jasmin Vardimon Company and Punchdrunk. Her choreography “OTOTOXIC" was awarded first prize at the international choreography competition at Aarhus. Aoi is Co-Artistic Director of AΦE, a Medway based dance company founded with Esteban Lecoq in 2016. AΦE explore and develop unique experiences while incorporating cutting-edge technology into their performances. Their work has
toured to 15 countries, over 60 venues and engaged with over 21,000 live audiences and participants worldwide. In only 6 years, they garnered the support of some of the most prestigious venues around the world including Sadler’s Wells Theatre London, the Sydney Festival and Théâtre de Chaillot in Paris. AΦE are associate artists of Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries –University of Kent (iCCi) and launched A+E Lab, a cultural and technology hub located at Historic Dockyard Chatham, UK. | aoiesteban.com/ | Instagram: @aoi.nakamura8
Photo by Miles Hart
Photo by Jan Rijk
Photo by Parcifal Werkman
HUNG DANCE
12 - 14 Mar
“This choreographic work explores the beauty and complexity of tension and counterbalance, with remarkable precision and poetic sensitivity.”
Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition, 2025
“Sublime choreography”
La Provence
K U N I K O M A E D A :
T H E R O O M
SCULPTURE EXHIBITION
Free for ticket holders
Running alongside performances of Last and First Men, this exhibition by London-based artist Kuniko Maeda transforms our Print Room Studio into a space of quiet reflection.
by
Photo
Dimitri Djuric
Maeda combines traditional Japanese craft techniques with contemporary processes to explore transformation, impermanence and sustainability. Her practice embraces material-led abstraction and the quiet poetry of form, exploring subtle shifts in time and space and capturing moments that feel at once familiar and strange.
Rather than treating sculpture as a fixed or isolated object, the works are conceived in direct response to their surroundings: the architecture of the room, the presence of the audience, and the understated rhythms of everyday life within a working theatre. Old furniture – chairs, tables, and other domestic forms – becomes an integral part of the installation.
Photo by Dimitri Djuric
Bearing traces of use and history, Maeda’s objects evoke intimacy and memory, creating a gentle dialogue between past and present. Sculptural forms are placed on or around them, appearing to rest, lean, or wait, as though they belong to the room itself.
The result is an environment in which artworks feel lived-in rather than displayed, quietly coexisting with the space and those who pass through it.
by
Photo
Dimitri Djuric
Works featured:
When a Room Awakens (2025), The Day in Tranquility (2025), Echoes of Shadows (2025), Where Time Fades (2025), Morphed (2025), Core (2025)
Photo by Dimitri Djuric
30 Apr - 02 May
BY CARYL CHURCHILL
Praise for the original production of Escaped Alone: 06 - 09 May
“Caryl Churchill’s magnificent play unleashes an intricate, elliptical, acutely female view of the apocalypse. Revolutionary.”
Christodoulidou, Merilee Ettia, Katrina Foster, Trey Francis, Thea Gavanski, Hugo Gregg, Li IkokuSmith, Dane Kostic, Emma LairdCraig, Maria Lisberg-Jonasson, Hamza Mullick, Kajsa Wiberg
Norquist, Andreane Rellou
Trustees
Linda Bernhardt, Mike Fisher, Mimi Gilligan, Jane Quinn, Anda Winters, Bill Winters (Chair)
Thank you to our patrons for their generous support:
Club Room
Ros Shelley, Julia Rochester, Tom Glocer, Jane Quinn
