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Hype Malaysia
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Man U @ Trafford Den, Under Armour Launch, LEGO Home & More: Dope Events We Hit Up This Week!
Another week, another whirlwind of totally EXTRA events! We were here, there and everywhere! We were on the scene and vibing like a boss! Just check out our social diary for this past week (don't be jelly!): Manchester United Roar With Tiger Beer @ The Trafford Den Kuala Lumpur transcended its status as a city for a week as it developed into a meeting place for aspirations and a living monument to ardour, pride, and steadfast devotion. The Trafford Den, a daring reimagining of what it means to be a Manchester United supporter in Malaysia, was made possible by Tiger Beer, the team's Official Beer Partner. The Trafford Den, located in the centre of Kuala Lumpur, was more than just a pop-up bar; it was the realisation of the Theatre of Dreams. It is a statement that Manchester United and its devoted supporters in Malaysia are not constrained by distance. Fans – Hype included – began flooding the venue on 24th May, taking in the sights and sounds of Old Trafford as it was brought to life in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. Stories filled the walls, jerseys were clad like armour, and cold Tiger Beer was poured in honour of something greater than a game: belief, identity, and belonging. Fans unleashed their tiger during this moment, and the spirit of audacity and passion was echoed in every cheer, roar, and shared Tiger Beer sip. Here's what went down at the event. Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: LEGO Home – A Playful Twist To Your Home @ The Exchange TRX The LEGO Group introduced a new level of LEGO play into one's living area with its most recent line of sets worthy of being displayed. With builds that range from pop culture tributes to botanical designs, the collection lets fans show off their individual interests and passions while blending in with any interior design. The first-ever LEGO Home in Malaysia, LEGO Home – A Playful Twist to Your Home, is being held by The LEGO Group in collaboration with IKEA Malaysia at Central Exchange, Ground Floor of The Exchange TRX, from 29th May to 8th June. The purpose of this 'house tour' event is to inspire visitors to add a playful touch to their homes by allowing them to discover how LEGO sets can be used as home décor to suit a variety of passions and lifestyles. In this three-way collaboration at The Exchange TRX, IKEA Malaysia furnishes the space, while LEGO bricks are used to construct and style the home décor. Take a peek at the LEGO Home. Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: UNIQLO x ANYA HINDMARCH SS25 'T-Shirt Shop' Launch UNIQLO brought a splash of British charm to Malaysia with an exclusive preview celebrating the launch of the UNIQLO x ANYA HINDMARCH Summer 2025 'T-SHIRT SHOP' collection recently. Available in-store today (30th May 2025), this second drop in the collection with ANYA HINDMARCH follows the debut collection during Fall/Winter 2024. With its focus on thoughtful simplicity and uplifting details, the summer collection brings a light-hearted spirit to the season, reminding us that even the most essential items can spark joy. Here's what went down at the launch. Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Under Armour Brand House Launch Under Armour has just relocated its Brand House in Sunway Pyramid, and we were front and centre for the revamped store's unveiling. Featuring whole new sections for easier browsing and a new lounge/ fitting room, the new store is a pleasure to browse and shop in. Hit it up at the Lower Ground floor of Sunway Pyramid today! Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Mattel 80th Anniversary 'All Play All Day' At Pavilion Bukit Jalil What happens when Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels, Thomas the Tank Engine, and more get together in Bukit Jalil? Well, just this Thursday, 29th May, was one such day as Mattel celebrated a vibrant, toy-filled adventure for the whole family. In honour of its 80th anniversary, Mattel transformed Pavilion Bukit Jalil into an immersive playground for All Play All Day — a school holiday event packed with interactive zones, nostalgic experiences, and exciting rewards that delighted both kids and adults alike. We were invited to explore the action, and each themed zone had something special to offer. From striking poses at Barbie's 360° photo booth and chilling in her pink bubble pool, to racing Hot Wheels through fiery loops and hopping aboard a life-sized Thomas train, the experience was nonstop fun. Families also enjoyed classic games in jumbo size and joined weekend competitions for a chance to win Mattel goodies. With free admission until 8th June, All Play All Day is worth checking out if you're looking for a fun day out with the family. You may even get a sneak peek at some goodies while you're there. Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Zizan Razak Named G-SHOCK's First Malaysian Ambassador Zizan Razak made history recently as G-SHOCK's first Malaysian brand ambassador, and we were on hand to witness him taking the crown. Known for his comedy wins in Maharaja Lawak and blockbusters like Polis Evo, plus his recent debut in the PETRONAS Grand Prix, Zizan perfectly matches G-SHOCK's 'Never Give Up' spirit. This collab kicks off with the legendary 6900 series watch, famous for its toughness since 1995. Zizan joins other regional stars like kickboxer Superbon and footballer Rizky Ridho, bringing fresh local energy to G-SHOCK's mix of fashion, art, music, and sports. Keep an eye on their socials for more cool drops and stories! Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur Preview The Exchange TRX is already a fun place to be, but did you know that there will soon be a brand new hotel located right next to it? We got the chance to catch a glimpse of the upcoming Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur at Aurum Theatre, where fun interview sessions were held for candidates who are looking for a fresh start in the hotel industry. Although the mockup exhibits of the hotel will be nothing compared to the real deal, it did offer us a sneak peek of what to expect when it opens later this year. Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: Turkish Cuisine @ Residence Of The Embassy Of The Republic Of Türkiye Türkiye recently celebrated its culinary heritage in Malaysia, and we were lucky to have a place at the table. Hosted by representatives living in Malaysia and abroad, the Turkish Cuisine Week is an event that takes place every year during May with the aim of highlight the years of cultural exchange, sustainable practices and deep-rooted traditions that go into traditional cuisine. During an exclusive luncheon hosted by the Embassy at the Ambassador's residence, guests witnessed a live preparation of the Tepsi and Tavukgöğsü, sharing the recipe for others to try at home. Each year, the event has a different theme, this year being 'Classic Dishes of Turkish Cuisine', offering the public an authentic taste of the country's culinary traditions and the history behind the loved dishes. Watch Hype's Exclusive Reel: What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sutton's predictions v grime stars Footsie & Strategy
The Premier League's top two meet at Anfield on Sunday but there is far more at stake earlier the same day when Newcastle host Chelsea. "This is huge for both sides in the race for the top five, and there are definitely some goals in this game," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton. "Chelsea have hit form again and it is important for them that Cole Palmer has ended his goal drought, but Newcastle are going to go for it because they are at home." Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests. For week 36, he takes on grime stars Footsie and Strategy, who are both Manchester United fans. Footsie and Strategy's collaborative album, Theatre of Dreams, was released on Thursday along with their video for their new lead single, Standard, which was shot in Manchester and London. Do you agree with their scores? You can make your own predictions below. The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page. A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points. Footsie is from east London but followed in his family's footsteps by supporting United. "When my grandparents came over from Jamaica, they landed in Manchester," he told BBC Sport. "My grandad worked there for a bit, and that's where the love for United comes from - my dad supported them too, and the whole family were Reds from there." For Strategy, who grew up much closer to Old Trafford, there was never any choice either. "My mum lived in Lower Broughton which was round the corner from The Cliff (United's old training ground) so when we were kids we used to hang out there and see all the players like Eric Cantona and David Beckham," he explained. "My Nana lives in Ordsall, which is like a two-minute walk from Old Trafford, and I used to catch my school bus from outside the ground every day. "I used to regularly see Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) when I was stood waiting at the bus stop, and I've got a photo of me with him and Bobby Charlton. "It's not quite the same but just the other day Footsie and I got a follow off JJ Gabriel [the 14-year-old old United striker dubbed 'Kid Messi']. That will impress a lot of girls in about three years time!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by @sirspyro Footsie and Strategy performed a freestyle on Sir Spyro's The Grime Show on BBC Radio 1Xtra on Tuesday, which is available now on BBC Sounds. Before beginning his music career, Footsie was a talented footballer in his youth. He played for famous east London junior side Senrab FC and was on Charlton's books as a teenager. "Senrab produced an amazing amount of footballers - Jermain Defoe, John Terry, Paul Konchesky and Ledley King all played for them," Footsie said. "I was in the same team as Muzzy Izzet and Jon Fortune and we were the top team in England in our age group. "I had a long stint at Charlton as a schoolboy, but then music was my calling really." Strategy played a lot of football as a teenager too, but admits it was not at as high a level. "I had the ability, but I never had the mentality," he said. "I was a great finisher, but I just did not take well to training on a Wednesday morning in the rain. "Like Footsie, I am an FA qualified football coach though. I did that for a while, but then music took over for me too." Chris Sutton, Footsie and Strategy were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan. Fulham 1-3 Everton I was at Goodison Park for Everton's draw with Ipswich last week and although the result was disappointing, they played well enough to win. If Everton had taken their chances they would have had the points wrapped up before Ipswich got back into the game. As I've said before though, I don't think it's a bad thing that they have not sustained their early form under David Moyes because that would paint a false picture of how strong their squad is, and it needs a serious overhaul in the summer. Moyes definitely lifted things when he took over in January but he has got some big decisions to make about who stays and goes, and it feels like a few players are on trial at the moment, with their futures uncertain. As for Fulham, well I've found them almost impossible to call for most of the season, especially at home, but I am going to back Marco Silva's side to take the points here. They will have a go at Everton and, with James Tarkowski injured, I don't think the Toffees will hold out. Sutton's prediction: 2-1 Strategy: Let's make this competitive, shall we? Footsie: Okay then! Strategy's prediction: I am going with Everton 1-2 Footsie's prediction: I am never sure which Fulham will turn up, but my initial thought was that they will win. 2-1 Strategy: Oh it is like that, is it!? Ipswich 0-1 Brentford Ipswich did well to fight back for a draw against Everton last week but this is a really tough game for them. Brentford are such a dynamic team and now they have got Kevin Schade scoring as well as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, so it is going to be hard to keep them quiet. The Bees recovered from 2-0 down to win 4-3 when they played Ipswich at home in October, with Mbeumo scoring the winner in the 96th minute. That was a big blow for the Tractor Boys at the time, but I don't think this will be anywhere near as close. Brentford have won three games in a row, and this will make it four. Sutton's prediction: 0-2 Footsie's prediction: Brentford are scoring some goals here. 1-3 Strategy's prediction: Yeah, this one is an away win. 0-2 Southampton 0-0 Manchester City Manchester City have got the FA Cup final to look forward to next weekend but they also have a top-five place to secure, so there is no danger they will not be fully focused on that on Saturday. After winning their past four league games, City also have some real momentum for the first time in a long while. You have to go back to August for the last time they managed a run like that. So, I can only see one outcome at St Mary's Stadium, and it is going to leave Southampton stuck on 11 points for at least another week. The only question here really is how many goals City score. Sutton's prediction: 0-3 Footsie's prediction: This is definitely a City win, whether we like it or not! 0-3 Strategy's prediction: I am going to go with Southampton to score a cheeky goal, but City to get four. 1-4 Wolves 0-2 Brighton Wolves' winning run was ended by Manchester City last time out but I was still really impressed by their intensity and they will cause Brighton plenty of problems too. It has been a strange season for the Seagulls, who have been a top-half team for the entire campaign but have won only one of their past seven league games. I don't think their campaign is necessarily fizzling out because they played well in their draw with Newcastle last week, but their poor run might continue because I don't see them beating Wolves either. Sutton's prediction: 2-1 Footsie's prediction: This is a tough one to call. 2-2 Strategy's prediction: I am backing Wolves here. This is a bit of a gamble, but I just have a hunch. 2-0 Vitality Stadium, 17:30 BST This should be a cracking game. Aston Villa really need a win to boost their hopes of making the top five, but how can I back against a Bournemouth side that beat Arsenal last time out? Part of my predictions strategy last week was to back the teams who are going for the Champions League places, but I don't think you can just ignore how well a team like Bournemouth are playing. Sutton's prediction: 2-2 Footsie's prediction: Bournemouth might nick this. 2-1 Strategy's prediction: No, Villa are taking it. 1-2 St James' Park, 12:00 BST It's great to see two teams going head-to-head in this race for the top five and Chelsea probably come into it in better form after getting a great result against Liverpool on Sunday. Yes, they were playing straight after Liverpool had won the title and the Reds had probably been celebrating all week, but they still had to put them away and they did that convincingly. It means Enzo Maresca's side have won their past three league games so they will be full of confidence ahead of this one, but it's going to be tough for them to extend that run. We know Maresca is a stickler for playing out from the back, but doing that against Newcastle is asking for trouble. The Magpies will put them under serious pressure, because that's what they do to teams at St James' Park. Newcastle have got a very physical midfield which might be where the battle is won and lost, and of course Alexander Isak is such a threat too. Chelsea have got match-winners too, if Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are firing, and my first thought was that there will be lots of goals in this game. With what's at stake, though, it might be a little cagier than that. I think the BBC readers will go for a draw but I am going to stick my neck out and say Newcastle will edge it. Sutton's prediction: 2-1 Footsie's prediction: Newcastle are at home, which makes a difference. 3-1 Strategy's prediction: I rate Newcastle but I'm going with Chelsea. 1-2 Old Trafford, 14:15 BST I am not sure who would want to watch this game? Manchester United's second string versus such a poor West Ham side with nothing to play for is not exactly essential viewing, is it? The Europa League final is going to be Ruben Amorim's focus for the rest of the season and Brentford made the most of that when they beat a weakened United team last weekend. I am not sure the Hammers are as dynamic as Brentford in attack, however, so they may not be capable of doing the same thing. A lot depends on the United team selection, though. It is hard enough making predictions anyway, but its even harder when there could be mass changes, and you don't know whether it is the United first team who are going to play, or be more like the youth team. That makes this more of a guess, when I am used to applying science to my predictions, but I wish I had gone for West Ham to draw with Tottenham last week, and I am not going to make the same mistake this time. Sutton's prediction: 1-1 Footsie's prediction: I've got to back United haven't I? 2-1 Strategy's prediction: I don't even know what to expect but I think there will be some goals. 4-3 Footsie's favourite United player: I used to play right-back so I used to watch Paul Parker and Denis Irwin avidly and just study their games. Now I've got love for Harry Maguire. He was 10 seconds away from leaving the club but now he is one of our best players by a long way. I love all the workhorses, because you need them. Strategy's favourite United player: I was a full-back too... a left-back. I started out as a striker but just got pushed further back. Everyone starts up front, don't they!? The players I liked were not just down to their performances, but the attitude they brought to the team. So Eric Cantona for me was a massive hero. As a kid, he was the guy. Now? I really like Lisandro Martinez, aka The Butcher. That's my kind of player - even if the performance is not up there, he is giving it everything. City Ground, 14:15 BST I am at this game for Sky and it is a must-win for Nottingham Forest in the top-five race. The pressure is off Leicester because they are already down and they are probably still smiling after getting a rare win over Southampton last time out, when Jamie Vardy scored his 199th goal for the Foxes. I bet Vardy would dearly love to get goal number 200 against Forest's rivals before he leaves the club in the summer, and this game does have a whiff of being one where he has a say in keeping Forest out of the Champions League places Still, if both teams play anything like they have done all season then this is a Forest win, easily. Chris Wood scored twice in a 3-1 win at the King Power in October and although his goals have dried up a bit, I can see him getting back on the scoresheet here. The result is really all that matters for Forest, because they need to get to the last game of the season in touch with Chelsea before they meet in what might turn out to be a Champions League play-off. Forest are playing catch-up at the moment but, with West Ham up next after this, I still think they have a very good chance of making it. Sutton's prediction: 2-0 Footsie's prediction: Forest are taking this. 2-0 Strategy's prediction: Leicester might get something here. 1-1 Tottenham Stadium, 15:00 BST Both clubs can almost forget about this game, really. It is a bit of a nuisance for both of them. Tottenham's season rests on what happens in the Europa League final on 21 May, while for Crystal Palace it is all about the FA Cup final next weekend. Eagles boss Oliver Glasner went strong with his team selection against Forest last week and if he does the same here then I can see a Palace victory. They don't have much to play for, though, because win or lose they look likely to finish in their usual position - 12th. Spurs are still having a stinker of a time with injuries, with James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall both set to miss the rest of the season, and that situation hardly helps Ange Postecoglou with the side he picks. It is hard to make a call without knowing who will play but, all things considered, the most likely outcome is probably a draw. Sutton's prediction: 1-1 Strategy's prediction: Palace will edge it. 0-1 Footsie's prediction: Yeah, Palace might nick that. 1-2 Anfield, 16:30 BST Arsenal were really good against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, and I was impressed by how brave they were, but they still went out of the Champions League. There will be Gunners fans out there who will think they should be winning more trophies than they have managed under Mikel Arteta, who has still not added to the FA Cup he lifted in his first season, 2019-20. Arsenal are still heading in the right direction but the biggest problem for me has been their recruitment, especially for them to not sign a striker last summer. There are such fine margins between success and failure at the highest level, and you need someone to put away your chances in the biggest games. They basically admitted that by trying to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in January and if anyone or anything is to blame for another trophyless season, then that's where it lies. Now Arsenal need to refocus and make sure they don't let second place slip away. This game obviously is not the title decider that some people may have anticipated earlier in the season, but I still feel both sides will be desperate to win it. It's just a shame that, from Liverpool's point of view, it might be over-shadowed by the reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold's announcement he is leaving the club. There is this debate surrounding Alexander-Arnold now, and whether he should start at Anfield this weekend or play for the club again at all, and also what kind of reception he will get if he does. No-one can tell Liverpool fans, or fans of any club, what to think - myself included - but we can all have an opinion on this whether we support them or not, and I think some of the reaction to this whole saga has been completely over the top. Fair-minded people will look at Alexander-Arnold as someone who has given over 20 years service to his boyhood club after rising through the ranks, but just wants a different challenge at Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world, and the most successful one in terms of winning European Cups and Champions Leagues. If they were in the same position, what would they do? You have always got your die-hards who are not going to change or see things anyone else's way, but Alexander-Arnold does not deserve the ridiculous abuse he is getting. In terms of the game itself, I really don't know what to expect. Liverpool were way below their best against Chelsea last week, but Arne Slot could go strong here and they may feel they have a point to prove against their nearest rivals. Similarly, Arsenal could be flat after their disappointment in Paris, or they could come out firing. Hopefully that's the case, and both teams will be up for it. Sutton's prediction: 1-1 Footsie's prediction: It will be close but Liverpool will win. 2-1 Strategy's prediction: That's not a bad shout, I might have to say the same there. 2-1 Last week was huge for Chris and his hopes of defending his BBC predictions title. After the first nine games of week 34, he had five correct results with no exact score, putting him on 50 points. His guest, singer Sasha Keable, had only managed one correct results so had 10 points, but the BBC readers led the way thanks to three correct results and one exact score, giving them 70 points. That meant it all came down to Monday's game between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest and, while Sasha and the BBC readers backed Palace to win, Sutton went for a 1-1 draw. That earned him 40 points for an exact score, which gave him his 10th outright weekly win of the season and put him back on top of the table. "I am a predictions genius," was his, erm, somewhat predictable response.
Daily Record
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
World Snooker champion swore at Sir Alex Ferguson and wound up Celtic-supporting rival
Ken Doherty accidentally swore at Sir Alex Ferguson after being invited to Old Trafford - before winding up Celtic supporter John Higgins. The Manchester United fan secured his only world title in 1997 by defeating the era's dominant player, Stephen Hendry, at the Crucible. Doherty returned to Ireland as a national hero and was honoured with an open-top bus parade around Dublin. His victory earned him recognition beyond his homeland, with snooker follower Ferguson reaching out to congratulate him and invite him to Old Trafford to display the trophy. However, the phone call didn't go as expected, with Doherty, thinking he was being pranked by friends, responding rather rudely. He recalled: "I got a phone call a week later. "I didn't recognise the number, the voice went [does an impression of Ferguson], 'Kenny, do you fancy coming and parading that trophy around Old Trafford?' "I told him to f*** off! I thought it was one of my mates winding me up. He said again, 'Kenny, it's Alex Ferguson here, I'm not going to ask you a second time'. So I had to apologise. Not many people have said that to him and got away with it! But he saw the funny side. He loves snooker." His VIP visit to the Theatre of Dreams was a memorable day for Doherty, who added: "He [Ferguson] showed me around the place. It was the last match of the season and they were picking up the Premiership trophy. "Walking out on the pitch with the trophy, my legs were like jelly. I met all the players. Cantona came up to me, shook my hand and said, 'Congratulations Mr Doherty, welcome to Old Trafford'. Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Keane, they couldn't wait to have a look at the trophy and look at the names on it. It was amazing." Doherty had the honour of showcasing his trophy at various prestigious sporting events, including an appearance at Celtic Park. That sparked a humorous reaction from fellow snooker player and avid Hoops supporter Higgins. "So I did the half-time draw at Celtic," said Doherty. "And I got a text from John Higgins, who's a big Celtic fan and was at the game. He goes, 'what the f*** are you doing in the middle of the pitch? You're not even a Celtic fan, I should be out there!". Doherty, now 55, still plays, although he didn't qualify for this year's World Championship. He is at the Crucible as part of the BBC's commentary team. Higgins resumes his second-round match against Xiao Guodong on Friday afternoon, with the best-of-25 match locked at 4-4.
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Sir Alex Ferguson's Man Utd offer got foul-mouthed response from World Snooker champion
Ken Doherty recalls his embarrassing response when Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson invited him to Old Trafford to show off the World Snooker Championship trophy Snooker legend Ken Doherty inadvertently swore at Sir Alex Ferguson after being invited to parade the World Championship trophy at Old Trafford. The Manchester United supporter clinched his only world title in 1997 by beating the dominant player of the era, Stephen Hendry, at the Crucible. Doherty returned to Ireland as a national hero and was rewarded with an open-top bus parade around Dublin. He won acclaim further afield, with snooker fan Ferguson even getting in touch to pass on his congratulations and invite him to Old Trafford to show off the trophy. However, the phone call didn't go as planned, with Doherty, believing he was being pranked by friends, issuing a rather rude response. He explained: 'I got a phone call a week later. 'I didn't recognise the number, the voice went [does an impression of Ferguson], 'Kenny, do you fancy coming and parading that trophy around Old Trafford? 'I told him to f*** off! I thought it was one of my mates winding me up. He said again, 'Kenny, it's Alex Ferguson here, I'm not going to ask you a second time'. So I had to apologise. Not many people have said that to him and got away with it! But he saw the funny side. He loves snooker.' His VIP trip to the Theatre of Dreams was a day to remember for Doherty, who said: 'He showed me around the place. It was the last match of the season and they were picking up the Premiership trophy. 'Walking out on the pitch with the trophy, my legs were like jelly. I met all the players. Cantona came up to me, shook my hand and said, 'Congratulations Mr Doherty, welcome to Old Trafford'. Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Keane, they couldn't wait to have a look at the trophy and look at the names on it. It was amazing.' Doherty was invited to various major sporting venues to parade the trophy, including Celtic, much to the chagrin of snooker rival and Hoops fan John Higgins. 'So I did the half-time draw at Celtic,' he recalled. 'And I got a text from John Higgins, who's a big Celtic fan and was at the game. He goes, 'what the f*** are you doing in the middle of the pitch? You're not even a Celtic fan, I should be out there!' Higgins beat Doherty in the following year's Crucible final to claim his first of four world titles. Doherty, 55, is still playing but failed to come through qualifying for the World Championship. He is at the tournament as part of the BBC's commentary team.
Telegraph
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Hofesh Shechter interview: ‘The British are all for classical ballet, but they think dance is too arty'
Hofesh Shechter thinks we are confused by modern dance. 'People are misguided,' he says. 'English audiences, in particular, expect to come in, understand it, and have a good conversation about it afterwards.' The Israeli-born, soon-to-be-British choreographer would prefer people to approach contemporary dance 'more like a concert' – something you experience 'through your senses'. He adds: 'You never go to a classical concert thinking, I'm going to draw a conclusion at the end and then I will say one clever sentence to the person next to me.'' Since exploding onto the British scene nearly two decades ago with pieces like Uprising (which plays with masculine identity) and Political Mother (about indoctrination and totalitarianism), 49-year-old Shechter has shaken up modern dance. His shows, renowned for their booming soundtracks, which he often composes, can feel like a rock concert, although his latest artistic collaboration saw him co-direct a play. In Oedipus at the Old Vic, with Matthew Warchus, his dancers made a wordless, electrifying Greek chorus, punctuating Sophocles's drama like an excess of exclamation marks. Their contribution was exhilarating and visceral, words Shechter uses again and again to describe his work, as we chat over tea (a soothing lemon and ginger with honey for his sore throat) in London's Groucho Club. Shechter's input was a huge hit, enlivening an oddly stilted production that featured a critically mauled Rami Malek as Oedipus. The experience was 'a bit of a suicide mission', he says about doing something new with such a well-known text. 'How did I feel? It was a really great challenge! I was frustrated! People really did their best with a mass of curiosity and love to the art forms,' he adds. I wonder if British audiences, with our love for classical ballet and musicals, struggle with contemporary dance. Shechter blames the terminology. 'People watch dance in a theatre, which is a misleading word here because a theatre is a place where stories are told and narratives are given and people feel like they should understand something.' It's more helpful, he adds, to think about contemporary dance in terms of 'dreaming at night', which both does and does not explain why his newest creation, which premiered at Sadler's Wells last autumn, is called Theatre of Dreams. Not that Shechter is in the business of explaining much when it comes to his productions. 'I always prefer for people to know nothing,' he says. With the second UK outing for Theatre of Dreams coming up at the Brighton Festival, audiences can expect to lose themselves in a pulsating dreamworld that ricochets between fantasy and nightmare, enlivened by endless lighting-enhanced 'jump cuts', something of a Shechter trademark. It's folk dance meets clubland, with a score co-written by Shechter and his regular collaborator Yaron Engler. Or in his words: 'It's like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. It's going to play with your mind, it's going to play with your heart, it's going to play with your thoughts. Let it. Ride the wave and let go,' he says, his tuneful accent a gentle fusion of Israeli, French and the odd bit of American ('gonna'). It's hard to fathom the speed of Shechter's success looking back. Five years after arriving in London by Eurostar to work as a jobbing drummer in late 2002, his nascent company was headlining shows at Sadler's Wells. The internet boom helped – he uploaded Uprising to YouTube – as well as generous Arts Council funding. 'I think the visceral nature of the work, the honesty, the rawness of it, is what people connected to,' he says. Born in Jerusalem in 1975, Shechter was brought up by his father after his parents divorced. He did some folk dance at school but discovered ballet aged 15. 'That's very late. I was horrible at it,' he says. He stuck with dance, joining the junior company of Tel Aviv-based Batsheva, Israel's main contemporary dance company. Dancing gave him a special status, so he 'didn't really serve' with the Israel Defence Force, which is mandatory for Israeli citizens: 'I was this kind of a cleric in a high school.' In any case, he soon left, quitting both Batsheva and Israel. 'I didn't want to be there. The politics is way too loud, and it's a small place.' He hasn't visited for a while. 'Not since the war started. I have two little girls [aged 10 and 12] and it's all very distressing for them.' Shechter, who is lithe and tall and could pass for one of his own dancers, has the intense air of someone who is fulfilling his fate. 'What interests me is to make people feel connected through music and dance. I feel that it's an important mission that can melt the problematic nature of politics, which is polarising,' he says, never less than earnest. He likens the power of dancing with an audience to 'a ceremony… like the high priests, thousands of years ago'. The 'weirdness' of dance obsesses him. 'For me, it's a place to really explore the big unknowns. Dance is a great medium to look at stuff like death that we can talk about but we'll never understand.' Dance is also fun, something that comes across well in the 2022 movie En Corps (Rise, in English), a love letter to contemporary dance by the French filmmaker Cédric Klapisch that features both his company and Shechter himself; he persuades an injured young Parisian ballerina, Marion Barbeau (a principal dancer with Paris Opera) to swap ballet for a role in his company after she injures her ankle. It didn't get a UK release ('English people, right?') but is a must-stream. In reality, it's rare for classical dancers to make the switch to contemporary. 'They hold themselves very straight and my work is about flow and [being] gooey,' says Shechter, who is just back from touring Theatre of Dreams in Korea. In Britain, dancers come to contemporary dance 'very late', which puts them at a disadvantage compared to their European, Asian or American contemporaries. He adds: 'The culture here is very traditional – it encourages classical ballet or musical theatre but contemporary dance is [seen as] a bit too arty.' More young people should dance, full stop, he thinks. 'I feel that young people might be lost for purpose and I think dance is a great one in focusing people back to your body, to life, to the simple things.' In From England With Love, a recent piece for his junior company, Shechter II, his subject was the fractured state of his adopted homeland (he is soon to become a British citizen; 'I want to be able to vote.') He has no plans for a similar sister piece about Israel. 'There is too much nuance, there is too much argument, there is too much disagreement. It doesn't interest me as an artist to go there,' he says. Despite having something of a reputation for work with a political bent, he insists that it 'happens in the dust of politics… It looks at people in the shadow of the social structures that we created. We did our best and they're still quite sh-tty.' He wants to reprise his earlier creations. 'I'd rework them a bit, but bring them back. A lot of this work is unfortunately still relevant. I say unfortunately because all these works are dealing with the oppression and the survival of human beings inside the wonderful and pathetic structures we have created for ourselves.' Just remember: it's fine not to understand what you're watching.
