27th November 2024
Stasiland is a dance-theatre piece set in the shredded document ruins of East Germany. Delving into a world of total surveillance where anxiety is the regime we explore the stories of East Germans living under the eye of the Stasi and their informants. We watch as through the reconstruction of documents left in the wake of the police state the characters discover the secrets of their own lives revealing their poignant stories of connection and loss.
Inspired by the book Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder & designed in the round for audiences in Galleries, Libraries & Theatres.
The Creation of Stasiland took place at the end of July, beginning of August 2024 at Trinity Laban’s Creekside Building. We had the pleasure of being joined by videographer Georgia Aiken and Photographer Grace Richardson, who developed the beautiful media you see on this page.
This creation period was supported by Arts Council England, Thrive (Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance’s development programme), our generous donors, Luke Brown Dance and Leesland Infant and Junior Schools who donated the shredded paper for our set.
Creative team
Choreographer/performer: Olivia Wallis Jackson
Olivia is a British-German Contemporary Dancer, Choreographer, Photographer, Teacher & Rehearsal Director working across the South and in London. Throughout the course of her training & career she has worked with artists & companies such as Luke Brown Dance, Michael Getman, Jonathan Fredrickson, Morvell Dance, Alleyne Dance, Charles Linehan & Shobana Jeyasingh. Alongside performance, she also work as a dance photographer and engage with community dance work as rehearsal director for ORB Youth Dance Co.
Performer: Kai Harvey
Kai is a dancer & choreographer based in London, originally from the South West. He has recently graduated from Rambert School & in now working as a freelance dance artist. He has previously worked with Russell Maliphant Company, Arthur Pita & Robbie Ordoña. He specialises in contemporary dance, focusing on continuous & flowing movements.
Performer: Mandy Tan
Mandy is a contemporary dance artist and educator from Singapore. Her distinct movement style — a continuous flow of energy threading each move into the next — draws influences from her early years of training in classical Chinese Dance and Ballet. Infused with acrobatic skills and floorwork techniques, she brings a blend of elegance and athleticism into every aspect of her artistic practice, from her performances and choreographies to her classes. Since moving to London in 2021, Mandy has been performing and creating dance works for stage and film, alongside leading classes in her local community. She is currently performing for Sonia Sabri Company under The Place’s Playground Tour 2024.
Performer: Jonah Wigley
Jonah is Dancer, Choreographer & Graphic Designer, working & living in London. Originally from the South Coast, he has worked with artists such as Luke Brown, James Cousins, Sung Im Her, Motionhouse, Rubberband & Avant Garde Dance and launched his own company Ino Dance in 2024 with his first professional work ‘Where You Held Me’. His background in dance is eclectic working with styles such as contemporary, street, hip-hop, popping, isolations, breaking dancing, floor work and acrobatics.
Films by Georgia Aiken and photography by Grace Richardson