Friday 21 November marked our annual scratch night, No Dress Code. This event provides opportunity for artists to present works-in-progress to a live audience & receive invaluable feedback in a relaxed, informal setting.

The programme included three entertaining and contrasting pieces:

• Sometimes I hate going for walks in nice places that look nice by Orla Collier
• handle with care (working title) by Alex Gosmore & Imo Wright
• Falling Down by perfectly serviceable / Lewys Holt

Sometimes I hate going for walks in nice places that look nice, opened the evening and explored feelings of pressure and overwhelm. This solo performance was set in a mountain of colourful clothes. Between choreographic motifs, Orla layered on shorts, leggings, tops, jackets & dresses. Accompanied her own narration and underscored with music by Lee Affen, the piece echoed Orla’s interest in the capacity dance and theatre has for emotional expression and absurdity. 

handle with care (working title) was created and performed by Northern School of Contemporary Dance Alumni, Alex Gosmore and Imo Wright. A striking image, both performers danced on a dark stage dressed in black rain macs with only a hazy, blue spot lighting the stage. Their dynamic duet explored feelings of belonging & in their own words: They weather the storm as the urban expanse pulls them apart whilst shaping a resilience to remain at one another’s side. 

Finally, concluding the nights proceedings was Falling Down by perfectly serviceable/Lewys Holt. They describe this piece as: Lewys is dancing up. They will not fall down. They try to make a brief moment of failure mean something important. To themself.  

To the audience… As with much of Lewys’ works, Falling Down, treads the line between dance, improvisation, & subtle wit. This innovative work, despite grounding in comedy, looked at bleaker commentary, and the idea of falling served as a wider metaphor for the current political landscape. Additional sound by Harvey Parkin-Christie on the saxophone also provided further comic relief & poignancy. 

As No Dress Code concluded, audiences were invited to provide feedback on the work. Artists chose questions to inform the next steps of development for their piece. These included, in what ways did you find the piece relatable? Or, what images and moments stick in your mind? This space provided a chance for audiences to discuss the work with the artists and other audience members.  

“Fabulous, an evening full of thought-provoking talent” 

“Love watching new performances and being inspired” 

“Loved It. Love Dance. Love Leeds!” – Audience feedback

Interested in presenting work-in-progress at No Dress Code 2026? Sign up to our Artist News to be the first to hear when the next call out is in Spring 2025. 

Images: David Lindsay