about

Thick & Tight

Thick & Tight is a UK-based dance theatre company creating bold, imaginative work that blends dance, mime, theatre and drag.

Our performances draw inspiration from a wide range of historical, political, literary and artistic influences, resulting in work that is distinctive, intricate and deeply expressive.

Thick & Tight is co-directed by Daniel Hay‑Gordon and El Perry.

our story

We founded Thick & Tight in 2012 after training together at Rambert School.

Starting out in pub theatres and LGBTQ+ venues, we have since grown into an award‑winning company presenting work at major theatres, festivals and cultural institutions.

Equally important to us is performing in socially engaged contexts - LGBTQ+ spaces, family festivals, community events and charity fundraisers. We work regularly with Duckie, sharing a commitment to queer culture and community celebration.

Some of the venues we’ve performed at…

associations

Thick & Tight’s current and previous partnerships include:

  • Artists in Residence, Philharmonia Orchestra (2025–26)

  • Associate Artists, The Lowry (2022–26)

  • Associate Artists, The Albany (2022–24)

  • Align Artists, South East Dance (2020–23)

our work

Rooted in ballet and contemporary dance techniques, our choreographic style is intricate, musical and highly detailed. We incorporate elements of queer performance - drag, lip‑sync, camp humour - and place strong emphasis on the relationship between movement and design.

Our work continually explores LGBTQ+ histories, figures and contemporary queer culture, examining how these intersect with dance.

We have an ongoing partnership with Corali Dance Company, a leading group of artists with learning disabilities. Together, we challenge elitism and stigma within dance and the wider arts sector.

We have been commissioned to create work with organisations including:

  • Manchester Collective

  • BalletBoyz

  • The Royal Ballet & Royal Opera

  • Żfin Malta (National Dance Company of Malta)

Internationally, our work has been presented at festivals such as Materia Prima (Poland), Stockholm Fringe (Sweden), Klovnbuf International Festival (Slovenia), Sydney Fringe (Australia) and Lucky Trimmer (Germany). In 2022, we travelled to Japan to study Noh and Kyogen theatre, later performing at Tokyo’s Tessen Kai Theatre in 2023 alongside Noh actors and musicians.

awards

Thick & Tight has received six awards:

  • UK Theatre Award – Achievement in Dance (2025) for Natural Behaviour

  • Offies Winner (Cabaret Category, 2024)

  • South East Dance – Space to Dance Award

  • Pebble Trust – Brighton Fringe International Touring Bursary

  • Stockholm Fringe Award for Excellence in Performance

  • International Screendance Festival Freiburg Award

We have also been nominated for:

  • Best Independent Company, National Critics Circle Award (2023 & 2026)