What Is Hail the New Puritan About?
The premise of Hail the New Puritan in 341 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the bustling heart of London’s avant‑garde scene, a single day unfolds for a troupe of dancers poised on the edge of a new performance. The film paints a portrait of the rehearsal studio as a living organism, where the thrum of music, the scent of sweat, and the quiet rustle of costumes create a crucible for invention. Within this kinetic environment, the ordinary rhythms of city life—telephone calls, street sounds, fleeting glances out a window—breathe an unexpected intimacy into the creative process.
The tone is a kinetic collage of contrasts: the rigor of disciplined choreography collides with the neon‑lit spontaneity of nightclub culture, while moments of televised exposure sit uneasy beside private, almost ritualistic gestures. Light shimmers across polished floors, then flickers in dim club spaces, echoing the film’s balance between polished public spectacle and the raw, unfiltered energy that fuels it. The atmosphere feels both reverent and mischievous, inviting viewers to sense the pulse of an artistic community that never truly sleeps.
At its core stands Michael Clark, a charismatic choreographer whose restless curiosity propels both his work and the people around him. He navigates the expectations of a demanding audience, the probing questions of a curious reporter, and the electric camaraderie of fellow creators. Figures such as Leigh Bowery, whose flamboyant presence blurs the line between performance and nightlife, and Mark E. Smith and Brix Smith‑Start, who bring a punk‑inflected edge to a televised appearance, orbit Clark’s trajectory, each adding their own flash of color to the day’s tapestry. Close collaborators like Gaby Agis and the quietly observed Julie Hood hint at the personal entanglements that quietly underlie the collective ambition.
The result is an immersive snapshot that captures the fragile balance between public display and private ritual, between disciplined rehearsal and spontaneous dance. By following the rhythm of a single day, the film offers a window into a world where creativity is both a shared responsibility and an intensely personal journey, leaving the audience eager to hear the music that will eventually echo through the final performance.
What Happens in Hail the New Puritan?
The complete story of Hail the New Puritan, from the first scene to the last, in 347 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens with a striking dance number that is repeatedly interrupted by Leigh Bowery and his friends, including Sue Tilley and Nicola Bateman (later Nicola Bowery), as they drift toward a table of fruit. Michael Clark wakes up and begins rehearsing, while other members of the company gradually arrive, setting a mood of quiet anticipation and shared creative focus. A reporter phones in and stops by to interview Clark, exploring how he first started dancing, why he moved to London, and his growing interest in traditional Scottish dance.
Clark appears on a TV program with Mark E. Smith and Brix Smith-Start, a moment that bridges his intimate studio world with a broader public stage. Across the river, Gaby Agis walks along the water’s edge, musing about finding her own apartment after staying with Clark, a small detail that hints at the web of intimate dependencies within the company. The group performs scenes drawn from New Puritans, weaving together movement, sound, and image in a way that feels both rehearsed and improvisational.
Meanwhile, Julie Hood’s boyfriend is shown wandering through London, a thread that situates the dancers in a living city outside the studio. Clark and Agis collaborate on a scene for a film, their bodies and intentions aligning in a moment that feels both cinematic and kinetic. Clark visits Bowery, who along with his friends Trojan and Rachel, are “getting ready” for the clubs, a tableau that blends nightlife with artistic ritual and blurs the lines between performance and everyday life. Clark departs for a rendezvous with “a date,” then heads out to clubs himself, where he dances with the same unguarded honesty that marks the film’s early scenes.
As dawn approaches, Clark returns to a quiet apartment where Agis is already in bed. He undresses and stages a private, intimate moment, dancing to Elvis’s Are You Lonesome Tonight?, a scene that lingers with a sense of vulnerability and release. The film captures a day in the life of a creative ensemble, balancing public appearances, club culture, and the quiet, private rituals that sustain their art.
Hail the New Puritan Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Opening dance interrupted by Bowery and friends” to “Clark strips and dances to Elvis”. 12 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Opening dance interrupted by Bowery and friends
The film opens with a surreal dance number that is interrupted by Leigh Bowery and his friends, who keep walking over to a table of fruit. Their interruptions inject a chaotic, playful energy into the sequence. The moment sets the tone for the troupe's performative world.
Where:opening dance stage
- 2
Clark wakes up and rehearses
Michael Clark wakes up and immediately begins rehearsing, establishing his focus and discipline. The rest of the company begins to arrive, filling the space with movement and anticipation. The routine anchors the day in preparation and artistry.
Where:Clark's studio
- 3
Reporter interviews Clark
A reporter calls and drops by to interview Clark, probing how he started dancing and why he moved to London. They also discuss his interest in traditional Scottish dance and his evolving style. The exchange situates Clark within a broader media and cultural conversation.
Where:Clark's studio
- 4
Clark on TV with Mark E. Smith and Brix Smith
Clark appears on a TV program alongside Mark E. Smith and Brix Smith, blending music and performance for a wider audience. The appearance expands the film’s collage of contemporary art and underground culture. It links Clark’s world to other notable figures of the scene.
Where:TV studio
- 5
Gaby Agis walks by the river
Gaby Agis walks by the river, musing about finding her own apartment and independence. She has been staying with Clark, which frames her personal journey within the communal living and artistic environment. The moment offers a quieter, reflective contrast to the studio scenes.
Where:the river
- 6
Company performs scenes from New Puritans
The company performs scenes from New Puritans, integrating live movement into the film’s structure. This performance showcases their distinctive language and challenges conventional narrative. It reinforces the film’s experimental, rehearsal-driven approach.
Where:studio stage
- 7
Julie Hood's boyfriend roams London
Julie Hood's boyfriend is shown wandering through London, adding a thread of urban exploration to the narrative. The wanderings provide a counterpoint to the concentrated rehearsal space. The moment suggests the interconnectedness of art, city, and personal lives.
Where:London streets
- 8
Clark and Agis shoot a film scene
Clark and Agis shoot a scene in a film, blending their collaboration with the on-screen narrative. This shoot highlights the permeability between documentary-style storytelling and staged performance. Their collaboration deepens the film’s exploration of art-making as process.
Where:film set
- 9
Clark visits Bowery and friends prepare for clubs
Clark visits Bowery, who with Trojan and Rachel is getting ready for the clubs. The dressing and preparation reveal the intimate inner workings of the nightlife ecosystem surrounding the performers. The moment brings Bowery into sharper focus as a provocative figure in the scene.
Where:Bowery's dressing room
- 10
Clark goes to a rendezvous and then to a club
Clark leaves for a rendezvous with a date, then heads out to a club where he dances. The night unfolds as a sequence of social and performative experiments that reinforce movement as personal expression. His night out blends life and art in motion.
When:night Where:London club
- 11
Return home to find Agis in bed
Pre-dawn, Clark heads home and finds Agis already in bed. The return carries a quiet intimacy beneath the day’s bustle. It signals a transitional moment before the final personal performance of the night.
When:pre-dawn Where:Clark's home
- 12
Clark strips and dances to Elvis
After returning home, Clark strips and dances to Elvis's 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' The moment crystallizes the film’s blend of pop culture, vulnerability, and raw performance. It serves as an intimate, final burst of self-expression before the night ends.
When:pre-dawn Where:Clark's home
Who Are the Main Characters in Hail the New Puritan?
9 characters, among them Michael Clark, Leigh Bowery and Gaby Agis: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- MC
Michael Clark
Played by Michael Clark
Choreographer and central figure in the film, Clark drives the company with a blend of disciplined rigor and fearless experimentation. He steers rehearsals, negotiates collaborations, and pursues an interest in traditional Scottish dance, shaping the company’s distinctive voice.
- 🕺 Dancer
- 🎨 Artist
- 🤝 Collaborator
- LB
Leigh Bowery
Played by Leigh Bowery
Iconic club performer whose flamboyant persona colors the nightlife surrounding the company. Bowery’s dressing-up and entertainments influence the visual and performative language of the film, blurring boundaries between fashion, theatre, and club culture.
- 🎭 Performer
- 🧥 Fashion
- GA
Gaby Agis
Played by Gaby Agis
Dancer in Clark’s circle who moves through rehearsal and performance with introspection about her own artistic path. She embodies the collaborative spirit of the company and contributes to the group’s dynamic energy.
- 💃 Dancer
- 🎨 Artist
- ST
Sue Tilley
Played by Sue Tilley
Friend of Bowery and a visible member of the social circle surrounding the performances. Sue’s presence adds a sense of club-era camaraderie and communal atmosphere to the film’s events.
- 🕺 Dancer
- 🧥 Fashion
- ME
Mark E. Smith
Played by Mark E. Smith
Frontman of The Fall who appears on a television program with Clark, bridging the worlds of punk music and contemporary dance. His involvement infuses the film with a raw, edge-driven energy.
- 🎤 Music
- BS
Brix Smith-Start
Played by Brix Smith-Start
Musician and performer who participates in broadcasts with Clark, contributing to the scene’s musical texture and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- 🎸 Music
- 🎤 Performance
- JH
Julie Hood
Played by Julie Hood
Dancer in the company whose presence reinforces the ensemble nature of the performances and the group’s choreographic explorations.
- 🩰 Dancer
- T
Trojan
Played by Trojan
Dancer and club figure within Bowery’s circle, part of the dressing-up and late-night energy that fuels the film’s scenes.
- 🕺 Dancer
- RA
Rachel Auburn
Played by Rachel Auburn
Dancer who participates in the film’s scenes and interacts within Bowery’s social/creative sphere, contributing to the documentary’s sense of collaboration.
- 🕺 Dancer
Where and When Is Hail the New Puritan Set?
Hail the New Puritan is set in London and River Thames (1980s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1980s
The events unfold within the 1980s London dance and club scene, characterized by DIY production and collaborative experimentation. Rehearsals spill into clubs, street outings, and television appearances, illustrating how performers balanced private practice with public spectacle. The era’s fashion, music, and nightlife infuse the film with a distinct, era-defining energy.
Where
London, River Thames
Set largely in London and along the River Thames, the film traces rehearsal spaces, club venues, and the social hub of the city’s experimental dance scene. Its locations emphasize urban energy, creative spaces, and the nocturnal rhythm of downtown life. The riverfront and city venues together create a backdrop for performance as daily life.
- 🏙️ Urban
- 🎶 Nightlife
- 🎨 Arts Scene
What Are the Themes of Hail the New Puritan?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Dance Identity, Performance and Media and Nightlife.
-
01
Dance Identity
Michael Clark uses movement to articulate identity, blending traditional dance with subversive club influences. The choreography becomes a living conversation among performers, designers, and musicians. The film suggests that dance is not just art but a form of personal and collective self-expression that challenges conventional norms. The presence of Bowery and other club icons underscores how performance can redefine the boundaries between art and life.
-
02
Performance and Media
Live performance blurs with media exposure as the company appears on TV and is observed by reporters. The film treats performance as a spectacle that invites public scrutiny while preserving intimate rehearsal dynamics. The collaboration across artists—singers, dancers, and visual performers—creates a hybrid art form. The liminal space between stage and screen highlights the performer's negotiation of fame.
-
03
Nightlife
The London nightlife serves as both backdrop and catalyst for the dancers’ energy. Clubs, dressing up, and late-night rendezvous push the performers toward bold experimentation. The atmosphere captures the tension between discipline in rehearsal and freedom on the floor. The pre-dawn return home marks a cyclical rhythm of work and play.
What Kind of Film Is Hail the New Puritan?
Neutral in tone, with variable pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Neutral
- Pacing
- Variable
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Ambiguous
An observational, low-key day-in-the-life portrait of an artist that meanders through rehearsals, interviews, and nocturnal city wandering with a detached and naturalistic feel.
- observational
- reflective
- nocturnal
- mundane
- creative
- wandering
- artistic process
- city life
- performance
- collaboration
Quiz
How well do you remember Hail the New Puritan? Test yourself on the story.
