As part of No Limits Festival the acclaimed British Stopgap Dance Company presents Lived Fiction, a compelling work that reveals the richness, innovation and connective power of inclusive performance.
No Limits brings together makers, performers and audiences with and without disabilities, demonstrating how art can broaden perspectives, awaken the senses and create meaningful encounters. In this context, the presence of Stopgap feels both natural and significant. International critics have been unanimous in their praise. The Observer described the work as “full of wit, sophistication and spellbinding movement”, while The Guardian called its approach to accessibility “quietly revolutionary”. Other international media have hailed Lived Fiction as groundbreaking, moving and a work that helps shape the future of both dance and theatre.
The British Stopgap Dance Company and Holland Dance Festival have been working closely together for many years to champion inclusive dance worldwide. Holland Dance Festival is also proud to be a co-producer of Lived Fiction, presented as part of No Limits Festival, further reflecting a shared commitment to advancing inclusive performing arts internationally. Internationally recognised as one of the leading voices in contemporary inclusive dance, Stopgap challenges established conventions through its diverse ensemble of performers with and without disabilities, demonstrating the depth, complexity and artistic power of inclusive practice.
In Lived Fiction, seven performers invite audiences into their personal stories, memories and experiences. Through dance, movement and spoken word, a mosaic of human encounters unfolds. In solos, duets and ensemble scenes, the performers reveal what movement means to them, how they experience life and the connections they share with one another.
The performance moves effortlessly between tenderness and humour, vulnerability and playfulness, offering a profound and multifaceted reflection on what it means to be human.
Accessibility is not an addition to the work, but lies at the very heart of the artistic experience. Stopgap seamlessly weaves elements that make the performance accessible to Deaf audiences, disabled visitors and neurodivergent audiences into every layer of the piece. Not as an extra feature, but as an integral part of the artistic language itself. The result is a shared experience in which everyone is invited to watch, feel and engage in their own way.
Expect an immersive and thought-provoking theatrical experience by exceptional performers – a work that not only points towards the future of inclusive dance, but also opens up new possibilities for the performing arts as a whole.
No Limits Festival
No Limits Festival celebrates the power of inclusive performing arts. The festival brings together artists and audiences with and without disabilities, creating space for new encounters and fresh perspectives. From the search for a low-stimulus environment with Speels Collectief to Eva Eikhout’s theatre lecture, in which she uses humour to address life’s sharpest edges, the programme embraces a wide range of experiences and voices. Performances are made accessible through Dutch Sign Language interpretation, audio description, surtitles, smart glasses, a quiet room and relaxed performances, all presented in wheelchair-accessible venues.
With a diverse programme of inspiring and surprising performances, No Limits demonstrates how art can transcend boundaries and connect people. Explore the full festival programme and discover all performances and activities.
“Strong choreographic structure and ingenuity, using audio description and correlating visual text to take the dance experience to an even higher sensory level. ★★★★★”
— Broadway World
