Edward Thomasson's Musical Performance 'The Whole Routine' Explores Human Connection Through Song and Dance

London-based artist Edward Thomasson presents 'The Whole Routine,' a musical performance exploring human attempts at connection through song and dance sequences. The work features Thomasson alongside six performers in escalating routines that examine control, longing, and interpersonal awkwardness. Collaborators include songwriter Robbie Ellen (Personnel) and composer Charlotte Harding, who helped create five songs for the piece. Performances blend trained and non-trained actors in plain environments using minimal props like a smoke machine and confetti. Thomasson describes the work as starting from moments of shame and embarrassment, seeking different forms of grace through imperfect execution rather than virtuosity. The performance will be shown at Performance Studios in London on May 29-30, at Glasgow's Tramway on April 18, and at Nottingham Contemporary in July, with additional dates pending. Montez Press will publish the score in May. Thomasson's practice centers on how performance reveals and conceals aspects of human interaction, with this work specifically investigating how song and dance can articulate difficult feelings.