By Julie-Anne Whitney
Noli Timere − Conceived and Directed by Rebecca Lazier; Choreography by Rebecca Lazier in collaboration with the performers; Net sculpture by Janet Echelman; Music composed and performed by Jorane; Lighting Design by Leigh Ann Vardy; Costume Design by Mary Jo Mecca. Presented by ArtsEmerson at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston, MA. Runs through February 1, 2026.
ArtsEmerson’s Noli Timere is a deeply moving exploration of trust and connection through the fusion of art, music, circus, and dance. Over the course of one thoroughly thrilling hour, eight performers take you on a gravity-defying emotional journey through a large-scale fiber art sculpture suspended 25 feet above the stage.
The multi-colored net sculpture, created by world-renowned Boston-based sculptor Janet Echelman, is a beautiful centerpiece of the show. Made from a thermoplastic fiber material that is both lightweight and high-strength, the nets are both flexible and durable, allowing the performers to climb, sit, stand, leap, roll, and hang on them with confidence. The sculpture is constantly changing shape depending on what the performers do with it. With the use of tension, release – and a lot of careful control – they use the nets like a swing, a ladder, and a slide. There are moments when the shapes they make mirror a pair of mountains and others when it looks like an undulating ocean.
When the performers first approach the nets, their movements are slow and measured, almost hesitant, as if they are exploring a new world. As they climb the “mountain” of this aerial world, the landscape they travel is an emotional one. The story that award-winning director/choreographer Rebecca Lazier and the performers create is arresting, alarming, and awe-inspiring. There are fight scenes and love scenes. They create images of struggle and loneliness. Sometimes they appear trapped and restless. There are expressions of pain and grief. But when the performers hold onto and reach for one another, they ultimately become each other’s strength and support in this heightened, dangerous world.
The stunning music of Québec-based composer Jorane elevates the entire Noli Timere experience. Her haunting, ethereal compositions and unique soundscapes are the show’s emotional guide. Jorane performs about half of the music live, dazzling the audience with transportive vocals that defy categorization.
Noli Timere is Latin for “be not afraid.” Though no explicit explanation is offered in the program, I interpreted this to mean be not afraid of this life. Be not afraid of each other. Be not afraid of the world. But as with all art, you must ultimately find your own meaning and significance in Noli Timere. Is the sculpture a symbol of trust? Is the piece a metaphor for the constancy of change? Is it about our desperate need for connection? Or is it about finding strength, balance, and stability in an unstable world? You must go and experience the wonder of Noli Timere, and decide for yourself. For more information and tickets, go to: https://artsemerson.org/events/noli-timere/
