A car crash changed Marc Brew’s life forever.

When Australian-born dance artist Marc Brew was involved in a car crash, it took him from ballet dancer to paraplegic in a split second.

Now, Brew and world renowned choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui bring their stunning collaboration to London for the first time. an Accident / a Life is a richly theatrical dance memoir that unravels key moments in our lives, exploring difficult things using humour, storytelling, film, music, dance – and a car.

The solo show premiered at Holland Dance Festival last year and is nominated for two National Dance Awards in the UK – Best Modern Choreography and Outstanding Male Modern Performance. The work relates the aftermath of Brew’s momentous accident – his own key moment. It takes the audience on a candid, generous and ultimately life-affirming journey.

Marc Brew’s previous acclaimed solos are For Now I am… and Remember When. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is artistic director of the Ballet of the Grand Théâtre de Genève and an associate artist at Sadler’s Wells, where his award-winning shows include Sutra and Babel. On Broadway, he choreographed the Alanis Morisette musical, Jagged Little Pill.

This production is in honour of, and dedicated to Joanne, Simon and Toby and our families.

A De-Da Productions, Marc Brew Company and Eastman production.

In co-production with: Perpodium; the Hessisches Staatsballett in the frame of Tanzplattform Rhein-Main a collaboration project between the Hessisches Staatsballett in Staatstheater Darmstadt and Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden and Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm; Holland Dance Festival and Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps.

In Association with National Theatre Scotland. Co-commissioned by Tramway and Sadler’s Wells. Developed in residency at the Théâtre National de Bretagne (TNB), Cumbernauld Theatre, The Work Room and De Warande.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body. With the support of the Flemish Government and the Belgian Federal Government’s Tax Shelter programme and Creative Scotland.

Header image © Filip Van Roe