Displacement, Spectacle, and the Art of Arrival: Future Cargo and the New Model of International Touring
What does it mean for art to cross borders in today's world?
In a post-Brexit environment where artistic collaboration between the UK and Europe faces new complexities, the co-production of Future Cargo between The Place and Greek National Opera Ballet (GNO Ballet) stands as both an act of creative vision and cultural resilience.
Created by Frauke Requardt and David Rosenberg, Future Cargo is no ordinary touring production. A 40-foot shipping container is transformed into a self-contained sci-fi dance spectacle featuring a travelator, immersive binaural sound, and a mesmerizing cast of silver-clad performers. Its ambitious complexity defies traditional touring models, making it uniquely suited to explore innovative forms of international exchange.
With Third Version Creative’s support, this large-scale outdoor performance is set to travel as a Concept Tour across Europe in 2025 and 2026. For those new to the term, concept touring involves restaging a production with a local cast—transforming a UK-based performance into a uniquely Greek experience. Beyond logistics, this approach promotes artistic exchange, cultural dialogue, and sustainability.
Photo Credit: Camilla Greenwell
A Greek Vision for International Art
At the heart of this European iteration is the Greek National Opera Ballet, under the visionary direction of Konstantinos Rigos. Reimagining a choreographic work deeply connected to its original performers requires courage and creativity, qualities that Rigos has brought abundantly to the process. By integrating GNO Ballet dancers into this futuristic landscape, Rigos has transformed hosting into reinvention—deepening the piece's artistic resonance and relevance.
The Role of Philanthropy in Touring Innovation
This groundbreaking project is made possible through generous support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). Their significant contribution provides essential financial confidence, enabling GNO Ballet and The Place to engage European partners to present the work throughout 2026. With multiple co-financed presentations, this initiative goes beyond traditional touring; it is an experiment in how large-scale, international dance collaborations can thrive in our current cultural and political climate.
In an environment often wary of risk, this new model champions innovation by centring trust, artistry, and sustainable infrastructure.
The Poetics of Arrival
From the outside, Future Cargo appears simply as a container arriving in town. Yet within its walls lies a delicate encounter—a profound exchange between spectacle and intimacy, performers and audience. As viewers gather, don headphones, and peer into this surreal environment, familiar public spaces become portals to another world.
Premiering at the Kalamata International Dance Festival in July 2025, and subsequently touring the Peloponnese with potential stops in Thessaloniki and more, Future Cargo exemplifies the poetic tension between highly crafted, intricate performances and their meaningful presence in public spaces.
Photo Credit: Hello Content
What Are We Really Touring?
At Third Version Creative, this is the critical question we continually ask: Are we merely exporting UK productions, or are we cultivating new ecosystems for shared cultural experiences?
In Future Cargo, we witness genuine artistic collaboration—a fusion of British creativity and Greek talent, UK institutions and Greek leadership, philanthropic backing and local execution. This isn’t conventional touring. It is a model firmly rooted in generosity, innovation, and adaptability.
When borders tighten, art must remain fluid. When traditional routes close, we must imagine new pathways. Future Cargo is both a triumph of design and a symbol of possibility—a moving exploration of essential questions:
Who do we make space for?
How do we truly arrive?
And what do we carry forward?
Lia Prentaki
Third Version Creative
