RAW

Two Matrix-style bodyguards stand fiercely at the entrance and inside, the room flashes and vibrates with strobes and pumping bass lines, setting the scene for aerial dance show, RAW. Dubbed as an exploration into clubbing culture, the show uncovers a dark world of drugs, sex, violence and shamanism.

Initially believable and lighthearted, four 'clubbers' queue up excitedly to enter the space. Moving to the beats of the live DJ placed high above the floor, the four dancers manoever themselves into the centre of the nightclub and appear to be having fun. Within minutes, the direction of the piece takes a dramatic turn. High on drugs, twitching and trembling, RAW unfolds into one really bad trip.

Unfortunately although the show's premise is intriguing, the story line is overly elaborate and the performance self-indulgent. Moments of bizarre comedy are injected into the piece in an attempt to lighten the mood. However, a blast of the Coronation Street theme tune and an absurd kung fu fight sequence simply add to the confusion on stage.

Although many of the group sequences are sloppy and out of sync, there is no doubt that these dancers are talented. They swing through the air with an enviable strength and grace, scaling ropes and mastering breathtaking aerial sequences. Nevertheless, the quality and subtilty of their movements are lost in the perplexing choreography, unfortunately resulting in an awkward and uneasy experience for many bemused onlookers.