Skip to content

THIS IS DANCE: Deciphers by Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu

Thu 6th Nov 2025, 7:00pm

Thursday

Location: Birmingham
Venue: Patrick Studio

Deciphers is a compelling and intimate physical performance that examines the complexity of human communication.

Created and performed by Naishi Wang (CA/CH) and Jean Abreu (UK/BR), this cross-cultural collaboration blends elements of Chinese Folk Dance, Brazilian movement, spoken word, breathwork, and ink on paper to explore themes of translation and identity.

The stage becomes a space of negotiation and revelation—where gestures, words, and mark-making attempt to bridge the gap between understanding and misunderstanding. With evocative lighting design and sound design, Deciphers invites audiences into a live experience that is both viscerally physical and deeply poetic.

The performance perfectly encapsulates that central theme of ‘translation’… it simultaneously embraces and alienates the audience.

Zoe Marin, Our Theatre Voice


Credits

Deciphers – An international collaboration by Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu
Created and performed by Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu
Lighting Design: Lucie Bazzo
Visual Design: Ivy Wang
Music Composition: Olesia Onykiienko
Dramaturgy: Guy Cools
Outside Eye: Ginelle Chagnon
Voice Coach: Fides Krucker
Rehearsal Director: Xing Bang Fu
Access Consultant: Zed Lightheart
Technical Director: Emerson Kafarowski
Stage Manager: A.J. Morra
PR: Robert James
Producers: Michael Peter Johnson (UK) and Robert Sauvey (Canada)

Supporters:

The 2025 UK tour is kindly supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario,  The Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation and the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom as well as the Embassy of Brazil in London, The Coronet Theatre, FABRIC, Dance City and Brighton Dome.

This performance is part of THIS IS DANCE an international season of dance in  Birmingham presented in partnership with FABRIC, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Rep, Fierce Festival, Midlands Arts Centre and Sampad Arts, bringing exceptional dance from both across the globe and the local community.

Key Information

A post-show talk will follow the performance.

Portuguese, Chinese, and English will be spoken during the performance. There is minimal spoken text in English; accessible to non-English speakers. No subtitles provided.

Please note the performance uses haze. 

Duration

60 minutes, no interval

Pricing

Full: £12

Concession: £10

Under 25s: £5

Special Offers

Buy 2 of the shows for 15% discount.  Buy all 3 shows for 25% discount.

T&Cs All tickets must be bought in the same transaction.

In Categories
Thursday
Birmingham
Evening
14+
This Is Dance
Performance
Events and Performances
Venue

Patrick Studio

Birmingham Hippodrome, Thorp Street
Birmingham, B5 4TB United Kingdom

Accessibility Information

Book

06 Nov 2025
Back to all Events
^