China and India go head-to-head in 'The Accountants', a high-tech, multimedia stage production about 'navigating cultural expectations and finding one’s own path in life'.

The Accountants is a brand new stage production combining dance choreographed by global dance icons Terence Lewis and Xie Xin.

It runs from at Aviva Studios, the landmark new cultural space now open in Manchester.

An exchange played out in text and voice notes tells the story of Kash, voiced by Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street), and Liam, voiced by Josh Hart, who help each other navigate the cultural expectations surrounding their two disparate but connected British Indian and British Chinese heritages. 

Against the backdrop of this intergenerational friendship, another story unfolds on stage. 12 dancers from the internationally renowned Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company (Mumbai, India) and Xiexin Dance Theatre (Shanghai, China) embody two competing accountancy firms and interpret, through movement, the desire to assess, compare and quantify the world around us.

The Factory International production is created by Keith Khan, a multi-disciplinary artist known for his cultural work from Notting Hill Carnival to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Keith Khan said: “I’m very interested in exploring form – this collusion of dance, sound and video in a seamless way. The Accountants is not one thing or the other. It’s not a theatre play. It’s not a dance show. It’s this hybrid form of art. I hope it makes people question all sorts of things to do with identity, but also, I hope they are dazzled.”

John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International said: “I’m very proud indeed to see this intercontinental collaboration come to life on our beautiful new stage at Aviva Studios. 

"I have long been a huge fan of Keith Khan’s work. From the early days of his legendary company Moti Roti, through massive street parades, to today’s production, he has had the rare capability to combine cutting-edge techniques and big social questions with an enormous sense of fun, colour and joy.

"International understanding is at the heart of our work, and this show is a particularly vibrant example of the rewards that a wide-ranging cultural collaboration can bring.”

The Accountants will Premiere at Manchester’s landmark new cultural space Aviva Studios, from 4th May to 11th May 2024. You can book tickets at factoryinternational.org now.