I recently saw 'Hidden' performed by the Motionhouse dance company at the Birmingham Hippodrome. It was a modern ballet built around a stage prop, the base of which was a series of bars.

During the first act, the prop was covered with video footage that synchronized with the dancer's movements. The sequences depicted people seemingly isolated from the crowds in the video. For example, one scene showed a couple either arguing or otherwise separate from others in a building.

The second act highlighted a group who had apparently broken free of the group to dance together. However, there was still a sense of danger at times, such as when two of the performers were trapped in tubes that they had to struggle to free themselves from.

The parts of the performance that involve the dancers timing their movements to the backdrops were very impressive, demonstrating a great deal of skill. Furthermore, the evolving use of the set was innovative. At one point, the prop was stripped back to bars, which the actors used as if they were performing athletics.

Conversely, I thought that the narrative of the dancer was muddled in places. I wondered whether it would have been better to have an overtly dystopian setting; as it was, the tone sometimes felt trite, lacking a strong central narrative. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the performance overall and would certainly see the group again.