John-William Watson
Hang in There, Baby
Set in the depths of a new year’s office party this dark-comedy gets increasingly surreal as the relentless monotony of office life dissolves into a ‘pac-man-esque nightmare’.
NDCWales Presents
Shorts | Byrion
Three up and coming choreographers fill the stage with drama, dark comedy and design that shines, set to a mix of new music and classic hits.
Production
“The you of today, but also tomorrow; somehow.”
Richard Life, CEO and Director of Life & Stuff Incorporated
Hang in There, Baby explores our relationship with destiny and decision making. Set in the depths of a new year’s office party this dark-comedy gets increasingly surreal as the relentless monotony of office life dissolves into a ‘pac-man-esque nightmare’.
Blending a sci-fi script, brilliant design and an original score by Adam Vincent Clarke, this genuinely funny and surprising dance urges you to hang on in there, no matter what.
Length: 20 minutes
Dancers: 4
First performed for NDCWales: 19 March 2025
Performed by: Alys Davies, Edward Myhill, Faye Tan and Jill Goh
Concept, Creation and Writing: John-William Watson
Co-Creation: Beth Emmerson, Nya Bardouille, Magdalena Anna Górnikiewicz & Lara Peres Rocha
Lighting Design: Ryan Joseph Stafford
Set & Costume Design: John-William Watson & Joshua Cartmell
Original Composition and Sound Design: Adam Vincent Clarke
Instrumentalists: Sarah Bayens (Violin), Miko Pablo (Cello), Markiyan Popil (Piano)
Recording Engineer: Noah Senden
Mixing & Mastering: Adam Vincent Clarke
It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie Songwriter: Billy Mayhew
It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie Recording Artists: The JazzMob
It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie Mixing & Recording: Nicholas Thayer
Creative Consultants: Jasmine Lily Norton, Joshua Cartmell
Originally Commissioned by Sadler’s Wells
Special thanks to Nóra Fay
John-William Watson
John-William Watson is a freelance, choreographer, director and dancer from Beeston, Leeds UK.
After graduating from The Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp BE in 2019, they swiftly carved a path for themselves creating critically acclaimed, surreal, self-described ‘dance-plays’ - often exploring the interplay between science fiction, dark-comedy and contemporary dance. Creating laugh-out-loud” worlds on stage that “look at the absurdity of the world with a smile.” - The Stage
Watson has previously received commissions from Sadler’s Wells, Messums West and The Riley Theatre. Touring and creating shows nationally and internationally their work has been described by Article 19 as “just what the wide world of dance needs right now.”
In recent years Watson has began performing in their own company works and for UK based dance artist Beth Emmerson. Their transition to performing began with their first solo company work ‘Why This Chair Does Not Exist’ in 2023; which has since toured nationally and internationally. A slap-stick, surreal character portrait exploring an individuals relationship with consciousness and mortality; hued by the worlds of Buster Keaton and Jacques Tati.
They have presented work at Sadler’s Wells Main House UK, Sadler’s Wells Lillian Baylis UK, The Riley Theatre UK, Birmingham Hippodrome UK, Pavilion Dance South West UK, Messums West UK, Bartholomew Fair UK, Teatro Vascello IT, Noorderlicht Festival BE & Théâtre Basse Passière FR.
Choreographer Photo: Camilla Greenwell
Performance photos: Foteini Christofilopoulou
