PUSH Physical Theatre: Hyde

Content Warning: This show contains mature themes, may not be suitable for children The physical theatre art of PUSH is a multi-disciplinary form of physical storytelling—using dance, partnering, athleticism, acrobatics, mime and artistry—to express what it means to be human. The classic R. L. Stevenson tale The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, also takes as its theme the question of what it means to be human. Why is a re-interpretation of a 19th century story important now? PUSH’s work with at-risk students at the Villa of Hope and at schools throughout Rochester was a major motivation for their commitment to developing ‘Hyde’ as a performance. Many ideas for characters and themes have been inspired by current events. As part of the research and initial creation of ‘Hyde’ the collaborating artists discussed the mothers of young men who commit terrible crimes. We rarely hear anything about them. What would meeting Hyde’s mother do to the ‘story’ we are being told? PUSH Artistic Director Heather Stevenson, as a mother who has raised teenage boys, brings a weight of authority to the telling of this story. We need to hear all of these voices on stages.