Company Chordelia’s latest production, Revel, offers a poignant and whimsical look at the physical toll of aging on seasoned professional dancers. Staged at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews, the production serves as a personal rebuttal to the common fear that performers might “make a spectacle of yourself” if they continue dancing beyond a perceived expiration date. The show is conceived and directed by Kally Lloyd-Jones, who performs alongside co-creator Steinvör Palsson, a prominent figure in the Scottish dance community.
The performance begins in an uncluttered dressing room where the two dancers emerge from unexpected places—Lloyd-Jones from beneath a discarded gown and Palsson from a storage crate. A backstage announcement informs them they have precisely nine hours to prepare for their next moment in the spotlight. Their pre-show ritual highlights the practicalities of mid-life, involving a checklist that includes reading glasses, multivitamins, alternate nostril breathing, and the application of an HRT patch.
As the countdown progresses, the dancers engage in a series of dreamlike sequences, oscillating between memories of Swan Lake, sharp marching gestures, and quiet moments spent with chocolate digestives and a banana. Their comic chemistry is evident throughout, particularly during a rendition of “Whatever Lola Wants” performed by Palsson while Lloyd-Jones is off-stage. In a moment of biting humor, they use Barbies to recall former athletic feats, noting, “I don’t think you could ever do that, Kally,” before proceeding to smash the dolls.
Despite the show’s emphasis on the aches and sprains of older bodies, the underlying technical mastery remains unmistakable. Lloyd-Jones displays sharp, bounding energy, while Palsson demonstrates delicate poise on her toes. The show concludes as time expires and the duo dons their costumes for one final practice, asserting that even with the realities of aging, their profound connection to the stage remains undiminished.
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