Enclosure 44 - Humans

Winner of a Herald Angel Award 2008, Edinburgh Zoo’s most recent exhibit – Humans! saw Janis Claxton Dance perform inside an animal enclosure revealing an extraordinary display of movement and behavoir exploring the nature of the animal within us all.

“It is a genius idea. It says something profound about the human condition.” The Independent

Read some of the 4 & 5 Star reviews here:

Herald
Scotsman
The Independent
Audience responses

Enclosure 44 - Humans

by Janis Claxton Dance

2008

filed under:

choreography

dancer

group

physical theatre

Based on Janis Claxton’s ongoing research at Edinburgh Zoo this site specific piece involved 7 performers : ‘Human Animals’ Janis Claxton, Skye Reynolds, Vikky Stewart, Libby Charlton and Kirki Kyrkou exhisting within the enclosure from 10am-5pm daily, all day for 11 days, in this durational event. They were joined by ‘Zoo Keepers’ Angus Balbernie & Clive Andrews for feeding times (1pm daily) and The Human Animal Talk (3pm daily).

Tuesday August 5 – Saturday August 16
(no humans on display Monday 11)
10.00am – 5.00pm

Cost: Normal Zoo admissions apply. No need to book.

This work is supported by

Reviews

Janis Claxton Dance: Enclosure 44 - Humans

“Arguably one of the most innovative and thought-provoking shows at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe”

The Scotsman

Janis Claxton Dance: Enclosure 44 - Humans

“Enclosure 44 – Humans, a novel, questioning and entertaining installation performance set in the Edinburgh Zoo.”

Dance Europe

Janis Claxton Dance: Enclosure 44 - Humans

“It is a genius idea. It says something profound about the human condition, questioning whether we are really that different from animals.”

The Independent

Janis Claxton Dance: Enclosure 44 - Humans

“Notions of who is the audience and who is the performer are playfully reversed. What provokes the most disruptive thoughts is our reaction… Bold, brilliant. Go.”

The Herald

Janis Claxton Dance: Enclosure 44 - Humans

“Claxton and her company have put together a truly interactive show on many levels and one of the most fun parts is to stand back and watch the various crowd reactions. Enclosure 44 is an experimental study in who we are and what makes us both similar and different to other animals”

Evening News

Janis Claxton Dance: Enclosure 44 - Humans

“Enclosure 44 – Humans was a huge success at this year’s Fringe, garnering more media attention and critical acclaim than anyone could have predicted.”

The List

Janis Claxton Dance: Enclosure 44 - Humans

“You could think of Janis Claxton’s ingenious ENCLOSURE 44 as I’m A Dancer! Get Me Out Of Here, for this is as close to social experiment as dance gets on the Fringe. ….For seven hours every day, this species, described as one of which we know very little, communicates by movement alone under the baffled gaze of passers-by. This is the first piece of physical theatre I’ve seen that makes children bawl with confusion. In fact, the audience response is as much part of the work as the dancers’ behaviour itself: what’s more enlightening than watching humans watch humans?…Don’t miss this brilliant meditation on humans’ domination of the world, our vulnerability and how others might perceive us.”

Scotland On Sunday