Motionhouse’s co‑founder Kevin Finnan and Associate Director Daniel Massarella discuss the making of Hidden - their most ambitious show yet.
Dance-circus company Motionhouse’s latest show Hidden has been wowing audiences in the UK and Europe - and this January it comes to Salford's Lowry.
The show, which brings together agility, acrobatics, dance, digital projection and a shape-shifting set, is the Warwickshire-based company’s most ambitious theatre production so far – and, say the team, audiences have been responding brilliantly to its jaw-dropping feats and its important message.
Created by Motionhouse co-founder and artistic director Kevin Finnan together with the company’s associate director Daniel Massarella and the dancers, Hidden explores our sense of shared humanity and how, even in the darkest of times, people will come together to support each other.
“The reaction from audiences has been quite overwhelming,” Daniel says. “We’ve had standing ovations at every venue. When a work is being created you think it’s going in the right direction but it’s only when it’s in front of an audience that you really get to see its success.
“What is great about the work is that it’s not one-dimensional. You can take away from it however you are feeling on that day, or whatever has come out in the press or has happened in the world at that point.
“Hidden strips people back to their basic humanity, when all we have is each other and that’s the only way we can get through life’s challenges.”
The show makes bold use of projection, with performers interacting with moving images of land and cityscapes, speeding trains and digital screens.
“It’s the first time we’ve used this amount of projection and people are blown away by that,” says Daniel. “People are also blown away by the skill level of the company, it’s one of the ‘danciest’ shows we’ve done, integrated with the highest level of circus. So there’s something for everyone - some people like the digital, the gaming and the more cinematic experience and the more emotional people like that emotional draw, that it makes you feel something.”
Kevin was inspired to create Hidden after watching international catastrophes including floods, wildfires and war and seeing that with every disaster there is also resilience through human connection and kindness.
“Hidden is a show about us,” Kevin explains. “There are things that are very dark moments for people all around the world. And as well as this, within our own lives everyone encounters moments that are really truly dark.
“But then Hidden is the thing that comes through in the darkest moments - it is when people can be at their very best and come to work together and to be together. So, rather than worrying about ‘us’ and ‘them’, we help each other and support each other.
“As well as the darkness, we are seeing that element of support that is so often hidden - and we need to celebrate that and celebrate humanity and the very good people we can all be.”
Founded in 1988 and based in Leamington Spa, Motionhouse has built up a reputation for breathtaking outdoor spectacle and imaginative indoor productions. These visual and physical effects are the company’s way of telling its stories.
“When I make a show, all of the flying and the film, what that’s there for is to engage and make the show entertaining to a wide range of people,” Kevin explains. “But the reason to make the show is to connect with people as best we can.
“When someone comes up to me in tears and says ‘that moved me more than I’ve been moved in a long time’, even if it’s just one person on the tour, that’s the point. The fact that we are getting that in most venues on this tour is the whole point of everything we do.
“You come to the theatre to be together with the artists and share the experience and then hopefully after the show the audience will take something away. For me the most important thing is saying we are not alone and you can communicate - that is what we should all be doing.”
And the company promises there will be thrills for people familiar with Motionhouse and for those for whom Hidden is their first experience of the company.
“It’s not a dance show, it’s not a circus show, it’s not a film show. It’s combining all of those art forms. It’s like having a smoothie with very different flavours which ultimately makes a very nice cocktail.” says Daniel.
“When you come in having seen what we do before there is definitely a pressure and expectation there, especially for Kevin, because you always have to be better than your last show. But we did it, and the audience response speaks volumes for that.”
The team are looking forward to bringing the show to Lowry in Salford
“The 2026 tour kicks off at Lowry in Salford in January,” Daniel says. “We’ve never been on the main stage of the Lowry before so we’re really excited about that.”
Hidden has already built up a strong reputation and has bookings into 2028 and Kevin promises all audiences are in for a treat.
“If you come and see any of our shows you will see a tremendous burst of exciting energy on the stage, you will see phenomenal dancers doing incredible things. It will be dynamic - there will be people flying through the air and all sorts of physical wonders and spectacle.
“Hidden is beautiful as well as powerful, engaging and fun. When you come away you will have had a wonderful evening where you have seen things that moved your heart and you will have seen things that made you joyful about who we are and what we can be.”
Hidden comes to Lowry for just one night on Friday 30th January. Tickets available now at thelowry.com