What happens when women enter a world created by men? That’s the question at the heart of Women in Socks and Sandals, a fun blend of dance and clowning from Denmark’s DON GNU physical theatre company. It’s a theme that feels a little obscured at times, but which nonetheless provides a neat framework on which to hang a trio of self-assured performances.
The staging for Women in Socks and Sandals is minimal but effective: a backdrop of vertical wooden planks is used to project short film clips and graphics, but otherwise leaves the sizeable floor free for the performers to occupy the space. Comedic squeals, sighs and grunts are the only vocalisations, and a crucial missing plank and some rubber yoga balls the only props: the physicality of the women is the main event here.
All three performers live up to that challenge, equally captivating delivering girlband-esque synchronisation and diva-coded hair swishing as they are in more traditional interpretive dance sections and clowning elements. If the through-line doesn’t always feel fully developed, the capable performances more than make up for it.
Women in Socks and Sandals, Zoo Southside, until 10 Aug, 1.20pm