The Nature of Why

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A musician and a dancer are performing with audience members surrounding them in a circle, watching the performance intently. The musician is playing a horn, wearing a pink t-shirt, blue jeans and is a wheelchair user. Their wheelchair is balancing on its back wheels, lifted into the air and being supported by the dancer, who is faced towards the audience. The lighting is atmospheric and the performers are illuminated in contrasting blue and pink hues.

About The Nature of Why

Playfully fusing theatre, live orchestral music and contemporary dance, The Nature of Why takes inspiration from the boundless curiosity of Nobel prize-winning theoretical physicist Richard Feynman and his search for meaning in the world around us. 

In this intimate experiential piece directed by Charles Hazlewood and award-winning Australian choreographer Caroline Bowditch, the Paraorchestra ensemble weave amongst the audience to a cinematic soundtrack composed by Will Gregory of Goldfrapp. 

Happenings, surprise interactions and moments of delight pop up across the gently-lit set, creating a sonic choose-your-own-adventure that surprises and delights audiences of all ages. 

More information about The Nature of Why

Number of performers

21 musicians

4 dancers

Upcoming dates

There currently aren’t any upcoming dates for The Nature of Why. 

If you’re interested in booking it for your venue or event then we’d love to talk – get in touch with us.

Previous dates

February 2024 - Plymouth - Theatre Royal

September 2019 - St Austell - Kneehigh Asylum

September 2019 - Manchester - The Lowry (as part of SICK! Festival)

September 2019 - Blackpool - Winter Gardens

May 2019 - Brighton - Brighton Dome (as part of Brighton Festival)

February 2019 - Perth - Heath Ledger Theatre 

September 2018 - London - Southbank Centre (as part of Unlimited Festival 2018)

May 2018 - Bristol - Bristol Old Vic (premiered as part of Mayfest 2018)

Watch the trailer

Listen to an audio-described version of this trailer

"One of the most wonderful, life affirming performances I have experienced in a very long time."

Audience feedback

Image gallery

  • Four dancers and one musician are performing in a brightly lit room, with audience members surrounding them in an immersive and intimate setting. The musician is playing the clarinet and the dancers are in motion.
  • Inside a large theatre, audience and performers mingle together on a stage lit by dozens of filament bulbs suspended from the ceiling. Amongst the crowd a harp, double bass, and other string instruments are visible.
  • An audience watching three musicians perform in Paraorchestra's 'The Nature of Why' at the Southbank Centre in London. One performer is playing the marimba while held in the air by another performer. The room is dark with bright white lights illuminating the performance.
  • A dancer with light skin tone lays prone on her back with just her legs and feet visible, supporting a double bass on her chest as a crowd looks on.
  • A harpist with short black hair and light skin tone wearing a white shirt and mauve trousers braces her instrument against herself as she performs
  • A dancer with short black hair and medium dark skin tone wearing a beige jacket and white t-shirt holds his arms outstretched, smiling broadly.
  • Two women with light skin tone wearing casual dress smile broadly as they dance arm in arm on a stage surroudned by an audience. In the foreground a man who is a wheelchair user plays french horn.
  • A man with short black hair and medium light skin tone wearing a button-up shirt plays viola whilst dappled with white light. An audience look on from very close by.

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