A new dance-theatre production, 'Bullyache: A Good Man Is Hard to Find', has opened at Sadler's Wells East in London, offering a stark and visually arresting exploration of corporate excess and power dynamics. The piece, conceived by Courtney Deyn and Jacob Samuel, plunges its audience into what is described as the aftermath of a particularly bleak office party, using unsettling imagery and ritualistic performance to convey its message.
The stage design features a giant boardroom table, around which scenes of disarray unfold. Reports from early viewings describe a naked man on the floor, another with his suit trousers around his ankles, and an individual urinating into a whisky glass. These elements collectively paint a picture of unchecked behaviour and the darker side of corporate culture, moving beyond the polished facade often associated with the banking world.
Deyn and Samuel's work is characterised as a surreal, less glossy interpretation of reality television game shows, suggesting a critique of how power and wealth are often portrayed and consumed in popular culture. The production aims to highlight the rituals and hierarchies inherent in high-stakes corporate environments, particularly within the financial sector, where notions of 'banking bros' have become a cultural shorthand for a certain type of behaviour.
The choice of Sadler's Wells East as the venue underscores the production's ambition to engage with contemporary social commentary through the medium of dance and theatre. Sadler's Wells is a renowned centre for dance, and its East London location often hosts innovative and thought-provoking new works, appealing to an audience interested in challenging artistic expressions.
'Bullyache' seeks to provoke thought about the consequences of unchecked ambition and the psychological impact of a culture driven by power and material gain. While visually striking, the piece is noted for its grim and confined portrayal, prompting audiences to reflect on the societal implications of the behaviours it depicts.