Second Guessing (ZooTVxIanAbbott, 11-20 August)

Tripping over oneself: Emma Ready's pieces pull together experiences of coercive control in an important set of short films.

Second Guessing has the hallmarks of a project that's been long in the making, an ever-evolving piece by choreographer and dancer Emma Ready about the equally slow-burn horror of coercive control.

"The more transparent the pieces become, the more accessible the wider message of awareness at hand."

Ready's choreography is inspired by first-hand experiences from victims of coercive control, literalising oft-used metaphors to describe the self-shrinking that happens as a result of being belittled and gaslit. She embodies that unwilling vulnerability, folding into herself in a way that's mesmerising.

Repetition is a particular motif used effectively: we see Ready return to the same painful patterns, tripping over herself as her feet cross one another. This familiar breaking move here restricts Ready's movement, creating an oppressive air of entrapment.

There's a sense of layering in the pieces filmed later in the process, and it's interesting that these first workshop videos are showcased alongside the final performances. The narrative is far stronger when choreography is paired with Ready's pained facial expressions, embuing the performance with a greater sense of physicality. The idea in Ready's second piece, "walking on eggshells", is lost in the isolation of movement to Ready's lower half- whilst the movement is there, the accessibility suffers without wider commentary beforehand.

Location plays an important role in Sara Tamburro's filming. We're treated to wide, industrial shots whilst Ready lies coiled in the palm of a painted hand, an immediately affecting visual shorthand. She stands behind chained gates, her hands bound, or loses her footing dancing on sand. The more transparent the pieces become, the more accessible the wider message of awareness at hand. Nuance doesn't suffer here for more obvious symbolism.

Second Guessing is available for on demand streaming until 20th August, you can find details and buy tickets here.