The Accountants unites the best of contemporary Indian and Chinese choreography at Aviva Studios

This May, Factory International hosts an immersive, pulsating theatrical experience which challenges tired stereotypes and blends the vibrant, majestic cultures of India and China with Keith Khan’s The Accountants at Aviva Studios, choreographed by the Xiexin Dance Theatre and the Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company.

Billed as ‘a night of breathtaking dance, thought-provoking dialogue and stunning visual effects’, The Accountants deconstructs the data and sifts through the debris of historic prejudice to celebrate the depth of universal human connection and the colourful interwoven tapestry of our shared global culture, led by spellbinding dance routines devised as a collaboration between the illustrious Shanghai choreographer Xie Xin and Mahrukh Dumasia and Terence Lewis of the Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company.

A thoroughly modern story with an innovative twist, Khan’s latest production follows young British-Chinese Liam who, while on his travels around the world, regularly exchanges texts with his nominal auntie Kash, herself a British-Indian, back in Manchester. As they banter about which culture has the better food, landmarks, spiritual substance and everything else, Liam considers the implications of his mixed heritage and imagines his future within the confines of cultural expectation.

Voiced by Josh Hart and Coronation Street’s Shobna Gulati, Liam and Kash remain unseen to the audience; their messages and voice notes create a backdrop to the performance, charting an intricate narrative of self-discovery while two suited ‘accountants’ representing their respective ancestral nations battle it out on stage in a high-tech spectacular of cybernetic visuals and breathtaking physicality.

Keith Khan is known for his large-scale cultural work which includes Notting Hill Carnival and the London 2012 Olympic Games. Terence Lewis is a celebrated judge on Dance India Dance and India’s Best Dancer, while Xie Xin is one of the most prominent figures in contemporary dance in China.

Music comes from the ARIAS-nominated sound artist Somatic and video design from award-winning Manchester art and design studio idontloveyouanymore.

The Accountants comes to Aviva Studios from Sat 4 May – Sat 11 May. Tickets are on sale now, including discounted options as part of Factory International’s affordable ticket scheme.

Book your tickets below to catch the mesmerising collaboration between India’s world-renowned dance company and one of the most groundbreaking choreographers in Chinese contemporary performance.