Acclaimed choreographer Stephanie Lake will premiere VISTA, an exhilarating new dance work exploring the fragility of human perception, at Malthouse’s Merlyn Theatre from 22 July to 1 August.
The highly anticipated production from Stephanie Lake Company features costuming by iconic Melbourne fashion label Alpha60, marking a first-time creative collaboration between Lake and designer Georgie Cleary. VISTA will later tour to Sydney’s Carriageworks and Brisbane Powerhouse.
Presented in two halves, the work examines how one event can fracture into entirely different readings depending on the viewer’s lens, showing the same choreographic sections with changes to the dancers, tempo and mood.
“VISTA grew from my fascination with perspective and the many versions of reality we each inhabit. It’s pure dance, music and design; a return to my roots. I’m so excited to finally share it with Melbourne audiences, and I hope they leave the show exhilarated and with minds and bodies buzzing,” Lake said.
Act One unfolds in monochrome precision, a razor-edged world of pulsing choreography, music and light. Act Two detonates into colour, refracting the same reality through a new lens. Structures repeat, motifs re-emerge, but they are transformed. Duets are re-cast, groups become solitary figures.
Six world-class dancers propel this shape-shifting world forward, accompanied by an original score from audio-visual artist Robin Fox and lighting design by Bosco Shaw.
“Few artists have shaped contemporary dance in Australia quite like Stephanie Lake. Her bold imagination, creative vision and unmistakable choreographic voice have made her one of the country’s finest choreographers,” Executive Producer and co-CEO Vivia Hickman said.
VISTA plays at Malthouse’s Merlyn Theatre from 22 July–1 August 2026. Tickets are on sale now via www.malthousetheatre.com.au
