Falling Man reviews

Edinburgh Spotlight

Dance, an in particular contemporary dance, can be an intimidating genre for the uninitiated. As Scotland’s national centre for dance, Dance Base offers a solid programme that is largely accessible to novices whilst simultaneously rewarding for aficionados. This diptych follows in that established tradition.

Smallpetitklein’s contemporary solo Falling Man takes as its inspiration Richard Drew’s photos of a man falling from the twin towers during the 9/11 attacks. Tom Pritchard is the sole performer, by turns graceful and spasmodic in his prolonged descent. Simple but atmospheric lighting contributes to the mood of despair and Pritchard’s words contribute substantially to the emotional power.

Falling Man has an emotional immediacy which communicates itself directly to its audience without any need for added interpretation. By Julie Dawson The Herald “Smallpetitklein’s Falling Man – with the lithely expressive Tom Pritchard surrendering himself, with harrowing composure, to the fatal falling of a 9/11 “jumper” – has tremendous power.” (The Herald, 8 Aug 2011) By Mary Brennan LOVE Fringe Phenomenal piece of Dance 'Falling Man' is a phenomenal piece of dance work performed by Tom Pritchard. It truly touched me in many ways with dealing with the concept of the 9/11 attacks. Tom Pritchard created an Immense, surreal atmosphere that made me flutter between many emotions. With lots of intent the piece drew the audience in enabling them to be involved with the emotions Tom Pritchard was portraying. I can’t recommend this piece of dance work enough and it if you don't see the performance you are truly missing out.

Exceptional Piece of Dance Performance ‘Falling Man’ (in a double bill with ‘Decreasing Infinity) at Dance Base, is inspired by Richard Drew’s series of photographs capturing a man falling from the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks. Performer Tom Pritchard creates an emotive, surreal and utterly compelling piece of dance performance which begs the questions of life. Even the walls fall down upon the individuals in the collapsing building a spiritual imperative drives them to live if even for a few seconds more, by ‘falling’. I can't recommend this performance enough, it's imagery, it's meaning still sits with me, and as we look out at the 'burning buildings' of society/world/self makes me question if indeed, we are all falling.

Across The Arts

Falling Man (*****) Performed with haunting physicality, Smallpetitklein’s solo performance ‘Falling Man’ is breath-taking. Tom Pritchard executes the piece with precise abandonment, giving a captivating performance of gritty sensitivity. Pritchard performs Thomas Small’s choreography with emotive physicality, delivering a poignant and thought provoking monologue throughout. Where were you when the towers fell? From Pritchard’s performance I felt like I was there. Mesmerising. By Jo Turbitt The Skinny Inspired by the Richard Drew's iconic images of a man falling from the Twin Towers, Thomas Small's solo for Tom Pritchard chips away at the veneer of calm that encases the photographs. Far from being a symbol of violent death, it has often been presented as a serene moment of acceptance of horror: the man leaps from the burning building to meet death on his own terms.

Pritchard is building his own career as an improviser, but Small has choreographed Falling Man perfectly onto his long, slim body. The smooth descent of the picture is replaced by shaking and simmering movements: setting up the romantic readings of the photograph, the dance demolishes them slowly by imagining the sensations of dropping through empty air, the impact of wind on the body and, ultimately, the approach of the fatal landing.

Dance Theatre - led by dance, but incorporating words, including a passionate spoken finale - becomes the perfect medium for reanimating the static impression into a vivid, disturbing reality. The presence of Pritchard, at times elegant, then awkward and hesitant, undermines the absurd optimism around the serene interpretation: it attacks the idea of art as transcend, and brings it back to earth.

By Margaret Kirk

DEP arts I can thoroughly recommended Falling man/Decreasing Infinity, I have to admit when I first read about this piece by Thomas Small. I had some reservations concerning the concept, however I am willing to eat my own words and say ‘WOW’, what a classy and well-executed piece of work. The Guardian Falling Man is another solo show, but uses dance rather than dialogue. Tommy Small, who choreographed the 15-minute performance, which features the dancer Tom Pritchard, was inspired by a photograph by Richard Drew of a man falling from the World Trade Centre. "The show is an exploration of what it would be like to be falling out of the air, and that dichotomy of it looking graceful and yet also deadly," he said.

Small visited Ground Zero and talked to survivors for his production, which begins with Pritchard delivering a monologue before dancing across a stage in moves that resemble free-falling through space. Before coming to Edinburgh, Falling Man was performed in New York City, which Small recalled being "an incredible, emotional experience ... we had survivors grabbing us and wanting to share their stories".

By Sarfraz Manzoor The Scotsman ….. double bill on the other hand , blends movement and text so beautifully I had tears pouring down my face. Of course it doesn’t matter that the subject mater for Falling man is hugely poignant anyway. Inspired by the desperately sad photographs of people leaping from the towers of the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001, rather than face the inferno inside, Tom Pritchard embodies the victims themselves, then steps outside to comment on their demise. Lying on his stomach, he elevates his head and feet like a parachutist before they pull the string that will save their life – but we know there will be no saving here. Amid atmospheric streams of light and dry ice, Pritchard moves his tall, lean body through the space until he stands before us full of rage. “They’re called ‘jumpers”, he tells us, implying some sense of choice, when in actual fact, what they really did was fall. By Kelly Apter The Times ….Falling Man danced by Tom Pritchard of Smallpetitklein, is based on photographs of a man plummeting from the Twin Towers published by The New York Times. Emma Preston, General Manager said the show previewed in New York to full houses. “ The feeling there was that something like this could easily go wrong, but the reaction was incredibly positive. By Mike Wade !