EdFringe Talk: VENUS 2.0

Posted in *EdFestivals 2025, *Written Interviews by

“We were on at 10.15pm, we still remember running round handing out flyers and saying “late night dance theatre!” – how great that there’s a place where that can become normalised!!”

WHO: Joshua Ben-Tovim and Roseanna Anderson

WHAT: “Follow the scandalous true story of Suffragette-turned-fascist Mary Richardson in this time-bending cabaret. Award-winning company IMPERMANENCE bring you a high-octane dance theatre experience exploring the chaos and turmoil of the early 20th-century. Featuring six chameleonic dancers, VENUS 2.0 is a white-knuckle ride through the evolution of Fascism. Enter a world of explosive physicality, hilarious cabaret and an obsession with the future. Why did it start? How does it stop? Where does it end? Fringe favourites IMPERMANENCE have been making groundbreaking productions since 2011, don’t miss this spectacle on the best stage for dance at the festival.”

WHERE: Main House at ZOO Southside (Venue 82) 

WHEN: 19:25 (75 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

So we first performed at the Fringe in 2015 when we had this show called DA-DA-DARLING… it was a fairly bonkers but highly choreographed romp through a particular book created by the surrealist Max Ernst. We were on at 10.15pm, we still remember running round handing out flyers and saying “late night dance theatre!” – how great that there’s a place where that can become normalised!! But yes, we had an amazing time and it’s super exciting to be coming back. Then we came back in 2017 with a show called SEXBOX which was also lots of fun and we got a few international gigs off the back of that!

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

Well, I hope we’ve learned a fair few things since then (!) – but in terms of the Fringe itself… I don’t know?? I think there’s a truth about putting on shows – that you do kind of have to reinvent the wheel each time which goes for what’s on stage as well as how you get an audience in. How you get people to connect with the show and what you’re doing is part of the process, so I think it’s just roll the sleeves up and get stuck in!

Tell us about your show.

VENUS 2.0 was created with the writer Peter Clements. Peter worked closely with us, Roseanna & Josh who directed the show, over a number of years to pull out a narrative from this overwhelming period of history. It’s been a rollercoaster collaboration, trying to predict where dance can tell the story and where we need to support the action with text and dialogue. The choreography is created by the performers and it’s generally been a really collaborative process… Edinburgh will be the premiere of the work and we can’t wait to meet an audience with it.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

We’ll just give one recommendation as there are so many things to see already, but people should really try and catch Kennedy Muntanga at Dance Base, the piece is called Akropolis and is running 12-24 August @ 4.05pm. Kennedy is an incredible dancer, like, really incredible… he’s also a deep thinker and serious choreographer. We’ve no doubt this will be worth a watch.

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