Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Beyond Words Dance Theatre

“The edge is where the work lives.”

— One Dance UK, 2024

A bold new dance-theatre work from BEYOND WORDS, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers reimagines Max Porter’s celebrated novel through an evocative interplay of words and bodies, rendering both Porter’s world and the experience of grief as fully kinetic and alive.

Described as “poignant and vital” by One Dance UK, this daring adaptation follows a father and his two sons navigating the aftermath of sudden loss. At the heart of their grief appears Crow: antagonist, trickster, babysitter – a volatile presence, who both wreaks havoc and provokes vital transformation.

Performed by five dancers and accompanied by a powerful original score, the work unfolds through the company’s pioneering movement language, Hypha, a gesture-based choreographic system allowing words to be embodied, disrupted, and remade in real time.

Enriched by context, character, and felt experience, the result is a thrilling interdisciplinary theatre experience that combines movement, live music, and striking visual design into a powerful, immersive spectacle. Audiences are invited to witness touch, voice, and the power of shared intention through living, breathing storytelling.

With thanks to Max Porter for his continued support of Helen & the Beyond Words team.

Supported by Arts Council England, University Centre Leeds, & Good Grief Festival.