“Spectacular Failures” actually tells us a lot about theatre. When the performers bring their costumes and props on stage at the beginning, they are preparing for the big show – for functioning, for persevering, for meeting expectations and for feedback. Flexibly, to beats and piano sounds, the four dancers go round and round practising their moves: forwards, backwards, jumping, turning. The most appealing way to put on stockings, the most expressive musical performance. As they practise, they keep their eyes on the others at all times: who will be the first to break ranks? … And, one by one, each of them halt, pause, lag behind the beat or the others. Their moments of failure make them quite endearing. As do the open and honest questions they pose: what are your impressions? What was your favourite moment? Who is really giving the stage directions here? As much as the four of them strive for a collective persona, they remain exciting in their individuality – one of them self-deprecating, the other approachably radiant. With moments of rhythmic, frenetic determination, with moments of pausing and repositioning and with humour that borders on tragedy, performing:group actually tells us a lot about life."