From Solitude to Connection: An Interview with Linden Dance Company on 'CAGED'
- Elspeth Chan
- Jul 20
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 21
Theme & Content & Artistic Process
1. CAGED explores themes of solitude, entrapment, and reconciliation. How did you develop the narrative and movement language to communicate these ideas?
To explore the show's core theme of loneliness and the need for connection, we aimed to present real-life stories authentically. Collaborating with Dr. Robert Dean (University of Lincoln), who researches loneliness and social prescribing—using creative and community activities instead of medication—we integrated first-hand accounts into the project’s development. We also worked with charities like Kissing It Better and drew on the Centre for Social Justice’s 2025 report on loneliness. These insights informed Togetherness, an intergenerational creative project uniting school children and care home residents, where we gathered more personal experiences of loneliness and connection.
2. The production blends Afro-fusion and Contemporary dance styles. How do these forms interact in CAGED, and what does this fusion contribute to the work’s emotional and physical landscape?
Our movement style of Afro-fusion and Contemporary is a unique blend of authentic physicality and musicality which is both accessible and allows audiences to engage with the movement beyond seeing “dance”. Combined with the bespoke musical score created by our collaborating musicians, Azizi Cole and EIF, this taps into audience’s own lived experiences and allows them to connect to the work in a wholly individual way. This is supported by the fact the piece is nonverbal, thus removing any barriers of language or cognition and allows a more open, subjective viewing experience.
3. Collaboration is a key part of your process, including working with mentors from outside the dance sector. How have these interdisciplinary collaborations influenced CAGED?
Collaboration is central to CAGED and to Linden’s creative process. We work with long-time collaborator and physical trainer Darryl Canham (Kaizen Centre), who helps us safely and dynamically engage with our 3m-high scaffold birdcage set — focusing not just on physical “tricks” but on movement that evokes emotion and imagery. Psychologists support our approach to the show's themes, offering analytical perspectives that complement firsthand experiences. Azizi Cole and EIF are vital in shaping an emotive soundscape that guides audiences on a sensory journey, deepening the impact of the performance beyond the visual experience.
4. The visual impact of the cage is striking. What does the cage symbolize for you, and how do you hope audiences interpret its presence on stage?
The white bird cage is a key and beautiful center point to the show. Standing alone in the space, particularly in the urban outdoor sites we often perform in, it conjures a visceral and emotive reaction before the dancers even begin. We chose this design because of its symbolic resonance: both safety and confinement, allowing visibility and connection with the outside world while emphasizing a sense of isolation. The cage was designed and created by set designer Simon Dormon, who we worked with closely to create something that is visually striking but also safe to dance around and on top of.
5. How do you approach the integration of physical and mental well-being within the choreography and performance of CAGED?
Prioritizing dancer wellbeing is central to Linden’s approach, as we believe that happy, supported artists create the most authentic work. Our training is adapted to meet the physical demands of the piece, incorporating new, bespoke elements to build fitness and confidence. Because our themes can be emotionally challenging, we hold regular check-ins and check-outs (both verbal and written) to help dancers process their experiences. We are passionate about fostering a supportive environment where every team member feels valued and respected throughout, encouraging dancers to have ownership of their character’s journey as CAGED evolves with each performance.
Format & Settings
1. CAGED is performed outdoors and adapts to different locations. How does the production evolve with each new site?
CAGED continually evolves with every audience and location it meets! We’ve performed in indoor, intimate sharing settings, black box theatres, outdoor community spaces, and various schools, including primary, secondary, and SEND. The flexible nature of the work allows us to adapt each performance — changing the emotional intensity, adjusting movement sizes and eyelines for different spaces, and engaging with audiences in unique ways. These constant adjustments spark a wide range of beautiful responses that challenge and develop the piece.
2. What motivated the decision to stage CAGED outdoors rather than in a traditional theatre setting?
We were inspired to create CAGED for outdoors because it allows us to connect with different and unique audiences, many of whom would not be motivated to go to the theatre or seek out dance. We were also aware that many might not want to go and see a show about loneliness! Whereas by staging it outdoors and catching passersby it allows us to draw people in and explore the themes without prejudgment or bias.
3. Could you share an example of a significant challenge you have encountered in the creation or touring of CAGED, and how you addressed it?
I think the biggest challenge was conveying the softer and more sensitive moments of the show in an outdoor context. It is much harder to maintain engagement in those emotional moments outdoors, but we were passionate about ensuring that this side of the story was represented. We worked with Dramaturg Eva Martinez to explore how we could present these moments while still retaining the audiences’ engagement amid many distractions. Music, as well as the relationship with the audience, plays a huge role in achieving this.
Public Engagement
1. In your experience, how does performing in public, non-traditional spaces affect audience engagement and accessibility?
I think outdoor performance offers an amazing opportunity to truly connect with your audiences, allowing us to see real time how they experience the show and talk with them afterwards. The conversations exchanged with the audiences have provided not only incredible insights into their interpretation of the work, but also their lived experiences and how CAGED might have affected them. It’s a fantastic opportunity to present dance and loneliness in an accessible way that everyone can experience, regardless of financial or personal circumstances.
2. Do you engage with local communities prior to performances? Yes, this is something we already do and are eager to expand. Recently, at CAPA College in Wakefield, we worked with 50 young people to create a curtain-closer performance for CAPA’s Amplify Festival, presented alongside the professional work. This offered a valuable chance to hear young people’s interpretations of the themes, providing insights that continue to shape and challenge the piece. As our tour reaches more locations in the UK and internationally, we hope to deepen the work’s impact and meaning by amplifying the voices and experiences of an ever-growing range of communities.
3. Beyond touring performances, do you offer workshops or educational activities in the communities you visit—for example, in schools or local organizations?
Yes, community outreach is a significant part of Linden's work, both in our home region of the West Midlands and across the UK. We partner with several schools in Birmingham, the Black Country, Ashburton, and the Isles of Scilly, and regularly deliver projects that engage students with both dance and important societal themes such as loneliness. It is vital for us to continuously inspire the next generation and encourage young people to appreciate their world and recognize their role in creating a more open and connected society.
Vision/Mission & Ethos
1. Linden Dance Company champions physical and mental well-being. When did this ethos become central to your practice, and why is it important to you and the company?
This ethos inspired us to form Linden. After successful performing careers, Co-Director Chris Radford and I had often experienced environments where dancers’ wellbeing was secondary to the work, leading many talented artists to leave the demanding industry. We wanted to take a different approach: prioritizing individual wellbeing and seeing what creative possibilities could emerge. Drawing on research from other sectors, we aim to apply these principles to dance and create safe spaces, especially for young people, where they can develop self-awareness and understand how to manage their own mental and physical wellbeing, fostering a healthier, more sustainable future for dancers.
2. What kind of impact or awareness do you hope to generate within the dance sector and the wider performance scene through this production?
Our main aim is to get communities talking about loneliness. Sadly, loneliness is one of the greatest failures of our current society and affects all generations, from the youngest to the oldest. It’s something we can all address by connecting with our local communities and paying attention to those around us—becoming more united rather than divided. This doesn’t require anything drastic or a great investment; it’s simply about reconnecting people with people. We hope that CAGED can be a catalyst for starting those important conversations.
3. As a company committed to empowerment and individuality, how do you support your dancers’ creative voices within a tightly structured piece like CAGED?
It is important to us that the dancers have autonomy and creative ownership of their characters within CAGED. The initial movement draws on their own lived experiences, ensuring they feel empowered and at the very root of the piece. We work with each individual performer on how they feel their character is evolving and responding as the work develops, valuing a collaborative and co-creative model of creation. Ultimately, we want to empower the performers to confidently take risks and adapt their performances as the piece tours to different audiences and environments.
*** This interview is conducted with the co-artistic director Sara Macqueen of Linden Dance Company. For more information, please visit their website: https://lindendc.com/.
