'LAID IN EARTH' ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET

Laid in Earth | English National Ballet

Production Design

Amidst the challenges of Covid, we were commissioned to bring this unique initiative to life, enabling audiences to safely experience ballet and contemporary dance productions from home. Collaborating closely with director Thomas James and choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, we focused on translating the ethereal essence of Laid in Earth onto the screen.

Working under tight budget and safety constraints, we partnered with the director and the English National Ballet’s internal creative and stage management teams to develop and realise these concepts. From initial vision to final execution, we managed all aspects of the art department. Filmed at the English National Ballet's East London headquarters, the set design seamlessly blended themes of earth and the underworld to complement the fluid choreography and eerie aesthetic. The haunting atmosphere was further elevated by Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, alongside new compositions by Olga Wojciechowska.

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Directed by Thomas James
Choreography | Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
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“A gothic tale of death and decay, evocatively filmed.”
The Observer

“This is a wholly realised work – neither filmed ballet, nor ballet film but something other.”
The Stage


​Producers | Benedict Turnbull & Chanel Parkinson - OB Management
Cinematography | Evelin van Rei | Assistant Choreographer @jasonkittelberger
1st AD | @tyyhack | Make Up & SFX | Natasha Lawes & her team | Production Design | Emma Winter