‘TOMORROW’ by 2Faced Dance: “for the ones who stayed and the ones who couldn’t” – Review

‘Tomorrow’ Press Images. Image Credit: Rosie Redwood.

In early April, all-male contemporary dance company 2Faced Dance brought their latest production ‘TOMORROW’ to Leeds’ Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, using movement to explore masculinity and men’s mental health. TSOTA attended the press night to see how these stories unfolded through the medium of contemporary dance. 

In the UK, nearly 12 men lose their lives every day to suicide. It’s a statistic that sits heavy. It’s difficult to process, and it’s even harder to talk about. But it’s one that the award-winning dance company placed at the very heart of their powerful new production. Perfectly captured by Artistic Director Tamsin Fitzgerald, “TOMORROW is about what it feels like to be a man right now — the pressures, the fragility and the hope… it is a physical response to the things we struggled to say with words.”

The idea that dance can express what words often can’t is clear throughout the production, not just in the choreography but in the staging, sound and performance.

The in-the-round staging is one of the production’s most effective elements. It draws the audience directly into the performance, blurring the line between dancer and spectator. Your eyes are never still. There is always something happening, something new to focus on, whether centre stage or at the edges of your vision. It prevents your attention drifting and keeps the piece constantly engaging, while also reflecting an internal chaos and mental clutter. 

‘Tomorrow’ Press Images. Image Credit: Rosie Redwood.

Another beautiful feature of this staging is that it requires every performer to stay intensely in character throughout, creating something that feels as much like physical theatre as dance. Raw emotion is written across every dancer’s face, reflecting the pain and complexity of the individuals whose lived stories shaped the work. Fitzgerald has spoken about how men with lived experience of mental health challenges were central to the creative process. As she explains, “The men we worked with were utterly generous in their honesty and their openness, willing to try new things and offer their stories to us. Those stories are woven into the work, alongside the dancers’ own experiences and perspectives.” That honesty comes through on stage. 

Sound carries that same intention. The performance begins in complete silence, reflecting the isolation of struggling alone. As the piece develops, the newly commissioned score by Ivor Novello-nominated composer Thomas Haines builds in intensity. At times it becomes loud, bold and almost overwhelming, a heartbeat-like rhythm that grows stronger and more urgent. It doesn’t simply accompany the movement, it amplifies it, pulling you deeper into the emotional world of the performers.

The pacing of the production is one of its great strengths. Nothing overstays its welcome and nothing feels rushed. Every moment feels considered. There are pauses and moments to breathe before the energy builds again. Alternating solos allow each dancer to shine indivdually while reinforcing that these struggles aren’t faced alone. The production doesn’t tell one single story: it tells many. The synchronised sections are where that really lands. Fluid, powerful and carefully crafted. Watching the dancers move together highlights something simple but important: there is strength in connection and shared experience.

‘Tomorrow’ Press Images. Image Credit: Rosie Redwood.

The evening didn’t simply end with the final bow. Audiences were invited to stay for ‘Head Talks’ — a post-show discussion featuring author and men’s mental health advocate Aaron Gillies; Helen Linsell, a specialist in trauma-informed dance and member of Dance United Yorkshire; Joshua Hall, whose experience of using dance to battle addiction offered a truly compelling case study; Matt Jamerson, an LGBTQ+ activist and men’s mental health advocate; and 2Faced Dance performer Lew Baker. The discussion created a warm and open space to continue the conversations the performance had started. When Lew Baker shared what he hoped audiences would take away, his answer was simple: “strength in vulnerability.” By that point in the evening, the performance had already made that message deeply felt. 

‘TOMORROW’ is a beautifully crafted and deeply affecting piece. It tackles a difficult subject with care, honesty and creativity, using dance to communicate what often goes unsaid. It’s not always easy to watch, but it is undeniably important.

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‘TOMORROW’ is currently touring the UK, with upcoming performances in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Tewkesbury and Shrewsbury. More information about the production and tour dates can be found on the 2Faced Dance website. 

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please know that help is available through organisations such as Mind and CALM’s (Campaign against living mislabels) phone line. You can also read about ‘Manthology’, another creative project supporting mens mental health in West Yorkshire here.