The Dan Daw Show

About

After having spent a lifetime being an inspiration to others, Dan is finally seizing the moment to inspire himself.

Taking ownership of the beautiful mess that encompasses all that he is, Dan lets go of who he once was to make room for who he wants to be.

Dan is joined in an intimate evening of play by performer and collaborator Christopher Owen (Joe Moran, Scottish Dance Theatre) where Dan takes back the power by being dominated on his own terms.

Nominated for the 2021 National Dance Awards, and directed by Mark Maughan (The Claim, Petrification), The Dan Daw Show is a peep into the shiny and sweaty push pull of living with shame while bursting with pride.

This is a show about care, intimacy and resilience, about letting go and reclaiming yourself.

 

“Certainly, Daw’s show is unlike anything else you are likely to see”
★★★★, The Guardian
Read the full review

“Unapologetic, vulnerable, brilliant”
★★★★, The Stage
Read the full review

Access Information

Pre-Show Access
Pre-Show Access is free, available at every show, and open to anyone that would benefit. The session is hosted by members of the production team and is responsive to the needs of individual audience members. For more information, click here 

What is Pre-Show Access?

 

Relaxed Performance
Every performance of The Dan Daw Show is a relaxed performance. Audience members are invited to move around, leave and return, whatever they need

Captions
Every performance of The Dan Daw Show is captioned. Captions are projected onto the arch at the rear of the stage

Sign Language Interpretated Performance
Not every performance of The Dan Daw Show has sign language interpretation available. Please check with specific venues for more information

Audio Description
Not every performance of The Dan Daw Show has audio description. Please check with specific venues for more information

Seating
At venues that offer general admission, we may be able to reserve seats for those audience members who need that option at the Pre-Show Access session. There may be alternative beanbag style seating available. Please check with specific venues for more information

Quiet Spaces
We aim to have a quiet space available at every show for use during the performance. In addition we aim to have another space available after the show, with staff from the production available if needed, for quiet processing

Sensory Adapted Performances
At some venues a sensory adapted performance of the show may be available. Please check with specific venues for more information

Triggers

Kink Experience

Verbally mentioned: • Blood • Scat • Extreme Pain • Fucking Depicted: • Sub/Dom behaviour (following instructions, using a safe word, tapping out) • Touching • Full-body contact rolling on the floor • Finger sucking • Spitting • Choking • Latex vacuum cube

Suffocation

With Dan lying on the floor, KrisX stands on Dan’s upper chest with both feet

Choking

During some of the physical interaction between Dan and KrisX, KrisX puts a hand around Dan’s neck as if choking him. Dan is placed into a latex vacuum cube, that is tight around his neck.

Restraint

Dan is placed into a latex vacuum cube by KrisX. The air is taken out of the cube, which becomes visibly tight, and causes Dan to be immobilised and restrained under KrisX’s control.

Dominant Behaviour

KrisX instructs Dan to move and stand in various positions, verbally and with gestures; he physically interacts with Dan in a manner that indicates that he is in control and instigating the movements. KrisX puts Dan into a latex vacuum cube, and controls how long he is in there, his entrance and exit.

Submissive Behaviour

Dan follows instructions given by KrisX, including standing on a table, kneeling, and being on all fours with KrisX’s feet on his back. Dan enters and is restrained by a latex vacuum cube.

Reaching Physical Limit

On occasion, Dan depicts a person at the limit of their endurance, and ‘taps out’ or uses a safe word to end that activity.

Sexually Explicit Depictions

There is frequent full-body contact between Dan and KrisX. There is no total nudity. During the show, Dan removes his t-shirt and is topless. He later removes the shorts and is dressed in underwear, socks and trainers. KrisX removes his t-shirt, and is topless.

Swearing

‘Fuck’ is used in various forms throughout the show. ‘Fucker’ is used as a lighthearted insult on occasions. ‘Bullshit’ is used.

Tattoos

Dan has both arms, his back and the back of his neck heavily tattooed. His torso has a tattooed outline of a skull and snake. Chris has a tattoo of a triangle and line on the inside of his right wrist.

Close-up of the Interior of a Mouth

KrisX uses a phone to project live close-up video of the inside of Dan’s mouth onto the curtain of the portal.

Loud Sound

On occasions during the show, the music becomes loud. There is a warning image that appears 5 seconds before the sound is at its most intense. This image fades after the intensity is at its peak.

Bright and/or Flashing Lights

On occasions during the show, the lights become bright and pulsate. There is a warning image that appears 5 seconds before the light is at its most intense. This image fades after the intensity is at its peak.

Haze

Haze is used throughout the show.

Blackout

At the end of the show, there is a blackout of the stage lights. The length of the blackout is determined by how long it takes for Dan’s costume to be adjusted.

Arachnophobia/Tentacle Phobia

If you have triggers relating to either of these, please speak to one of our hosts for more information.

Sexy Disabled People

Dan Daw is a sexy disabled person. The Dan Daw Creative Projects team includes other sexy disabled people.
Tour Dates

HOME (Manchester, UK)
1 – 3 December 2002, 7.45pm
Book now

Technical Rider and Touring Information

Technical Rider
Marketing Pack

Touring History

Dance Base (Edinburgh, UK)
23 – 28 August 2022, 8.30pm

Battersea Arts Centre (London, UK)
27 April – 3 May 2022, 8pm

The Junction (Cambridge, UK)
22 & 23 February 2022, 7.30pm

Lakeside Arts (Nottingham, UK)
8 February 2022, 7.30pm

Arena Theatre (Wolverhampton, UK)
4 February 2022, 7.30pm

Sadler’s Wells (London, UK)
30 September & 1 October 2021, 8pm

Dance City (Newcastle, UK)
25 September 2021, 7.30pm

Dates

HOME (Manchester, UK)
1 – 3 December 2022, 7.45pm
Book now

Creative Team

Artistic Director
Dan Daw

Director
Mark Maughan

Assistant Director
Thyrza Abrahams

Movement Director
Sarah Blanc

Designer
Emma Bailey

Lighting Designer
Nao Nagai

Composition & Sound Design
Guy Connelly

Dramaturg
Brian Lobel

Artistic Peer Support
Dr Kate Marsh

Performers & Collaborators

Dan Daw
Christopher Owen

Production Team

Production & Stage Manager
Froud
mail@froudnet.com

Producer
Liz Counsell
hello@lizcounsell.com

Access Support
Zed Lightheart

Support

Supported using public funding from Arts Council England through project grants. Originally conceived as part of Jerwood Choreographic Research Project II and commissioned in 2019/20 by Sadler’s Wells, Arts House Melbourne, DanceHub Birmingham, The Lowry, Déda, Cambridge Junction, DanceXchange and Dance4. Supported by Shoreditch Town Hall and Candoco Dance Company.