Betroffenheit (2017)

Created by Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young, the award-winning 'Betroffenheit' is a boundary-stretching hybrid of theatre and dance that explores the psychological states of trauma, grief and addiction. The title of the piece is a German word that roughly translates as a state of shock, bewilderment or dismay. 'Betroffenheit' is based on Young’s own experience - his teenage daughter, niece and nephew died in a fire whilst on a family holiday in 2009. Combining tap, salsa, spoken word, song and puppetry with Pite’s emotionally charged choreography, 'Betroffenheit' is a witty and tenderhearted exploration of disconnection, isolation and what it means to come to terms with life’s tragic.