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Quietly and assuredly euphoric, Dan Daw embraces himself and his space in this masterclass of intimacy, consent and movement.
Dan Daw is a dancer, a lover, a man who knows what he wants in bed, and a gay man with a physical disability. Many parts of his identity have been labelled taboo or inconvenient, but rather than minimise himself for the comfort of others, Daw has bundled up his most intimate fantasies and with collaborator Christopher Owen to support, created an hour and a half of entertainment unlike anything you’ve seen on stage before, which tells the story of Daw’s own sexual liberation.
This is performance art with minimal dialogue so it will go over the heads of some, and that’s okay. If you’re a person who wants to be challenged and likes to dig a little further below the surface, you’ll enjoy Daw’s approach to storytelling.
Everything about this show is wrapped up in anticipation. Music by Guy Connelly is somehow always building, lighting is warm, and movements deliberate and weighted with expectation – and the occasional BDSM latex plaything. The bond of trust between Daw and Christopher is evident in the way they communicate with each other on stage. Amid some quite aggressive looking equipment and subversive acts of intimacy there is tender language and touch, and constant check-ins throughout the performance.
Daw commands the stage with ease, even when he is in very vulnerable positions, obviously comfortable in the spotlight and passionate about his work. Presumably because of his acute awareness of all the ways in which the world does not adapt itself for him, he goes the extra mile to provide for his audience – there are captions, trigger warnings, clear and informed consent given periodically, and it’s all sensitive to sensory needs. And, shock and behold, these accommodating measures don’t impact the show’s quality or enjoyment at all – in fact, they enhance it. We’re in Dan’s ideal world, where he doesn’t have to ask for what he needs; it’s just there.
We are used to thinking of disabled people as needing help, comfort; throughout The Dan Daw Show, Daw is the one comforting and reassuring us. The various routines and depictions are disjointed, widely varied, and that’s the point. He is unencumbered, and allowed to enjoy his body exactly as it is, with the person he has chosen to share it with.
Purchase your ticket to The Dan Daw Show here.
Skinsy Gewürztraminer | Wine Pairing
In its traditional form, Gewürztraminer is a light, off-dry white wine with dominant tropical flavours, particularly lychee. When it’s produced as an Orange wine, that is, when the grapes are initially fermented in their skins, it takes on delicious earthy flavours as well. It’s a combination that sounds like it shouldn’t work but does!
My Pick: Doom Juice 2021 South Australia Gewürz
Doom Juice Gewürz is a delightful examples of a great skinsy Gewürztraminer, maintaining its lovely tropical notes, particularly on the nose, and incorporating early minerality that gives it an edge a regular Gewürz often lacks.
The Dan Daw Show, Seymour Centre | Tasting Notes
| Aussie Season | 21 to 24 Feb 2023, Dan Daw Creative Projects, Seymour Centre, Sydney |
| Ticket $ | $32-39 |
| Artistic Director | Dan Daw |
| Director | Mark Maughan |
| Theatre Type & Genre | Dance |
| See it if you like | unique stories, productions that explore sexuality and intimacy |
| Other Info | Nominated for the 2021 Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards and named as one of the top five dance shows of 2022 by The Guardian UK |
| Wine Pairing | Gewürztraminer |
| Criteria for Wine Pairing | Skinsy wine, unique flavour profile |
Toasting Aussie Theatre 