PleaseDon’tCatchMeWhenIFall is a contemporary dance which invites its audience to pause, take a breath, and allow your mind to consider what is happening in and around your life while you absorb the show. There are information pamphlets provided before the show begins – I highly recommend reading it before the lights go down, or you won’t be able to enjoy the show to its fullest extent.
With lighting that is simple, smooth, and effective for what they were doing, each new lighting change is one of the few clues into the next movement. It was unobtrusive and moody, perfectly setting the scene and gently guiding your eyes where to look. Paired with music that was loud but not overwhelming, the lighting and sound entwined with one another to create an ethereal atmosphere that melded with their movements. If you are a person sensitive to louder noises in smaller spaces earplugs were being offered at the door to anyone who wanted or needed them.
The costumes and set design were simple in colour and design, and appropriate for their movements. Blue ribbons were carefully placed to hold together a dress, hold up long pants, and create an artfully draped backdrop to bring together the dancers and the set. The subtle but well-executed connection between dancers and set provided minimal distraction for the audience, allowing for their full focus to be on each moment and the two performers.
There were only two performers on the small stage, working as both the leads and the ensemble their comfort and teamwork were evident as they worked around and with each other through each act. Working together and against each other, they showcased their individual dance strengths and skill sets. Each dancer has their own strengths, dance background, and style that they bring to the stage, but this is a contemporary stylised performance (classically trained dancers in the audience will wince at the bent legs and flexed toes), and the dancing may not be what you would expect, even if you are prepared for a contemporary dance. Be prepared to expect the unexpected, watch for the smallest of inflections in body language, and appreciate the strength that can be found in repetitive movements.
There is some audience engagement in the final act of the show, but it is optional, and those who chose to participate enjoyed themselves and what they created together. The final act is an act of childlike joy, and a beautiful ending to what can only be described as a thought-provoking show.
Guaranteed to provoke different emotions, thoughts, and experiences from the audience, there are very few shows like PleaseDon’tCatchMeWhenIFall to see at the Fringe. Its originality and unique take on the interconnectedness between contemporary dance and relationships between both people and gravity will leave you somewhere between “that was powerful” and “what was that?”
To book tickets to PleaseDon’tCatchMeWhenIFall., please visit https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/pleasedon-tcatchmewhenifall-af2026.
