Dancing the Knife relates the story of a woman refugee who meets a street theatre performer. The show explores encounters and feelings experienced by refugees when they arrive in the UK. The show weaves together dance, live music, digital images and text, commissioned from leading author Philip Gross.

Dancing the Knife - two lives on the edge: a woman in the crowd, with a whole world of exile and dangers inside her, meets an unsettling juggler on the streets of a city. Medea Mahdavi weaves a multi-media dream round their encounter with words by poet Philip Gross. A unique collaboration - by turns sensual, funny, thought-provoking and direct - a haunting and topical experience that, once seen, you will not forget.

Can I dance, can I play? - Medea Mahdavi and jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard explored issues of artistic survival in ‘Can I dance, can I play?’. Through almost a game of hide and seek, the performance examined the experience of artists under political repression. ‘Can I dance, can I play?’ revealed the irrepressible desire to express freedom and joy that drive dance and music back into the light.

Doves - The reviewer said of the premiere: ‘We sat transfixed, spell-bound, carried on a wave of rhythm and imagery: the magic of performance was honoured tonight.’ A multi-media collaboration with dance, sound sculpture, text and live music. Medea used each of the linked dances to portray a character inspired by stories by 12th century Persian poet Nizami. Through the symbolic power of the characters, Medea led the audience through the thoughts and actions of a contemporary entertainer.

Simorgh - The Phoenix - Inspired by the mythical bird Simorgh, Medea and fellow artists weave together dance, storytelling, live music and projected images to explore the theme of adoption. This show was premiered as part of the Mosaics season at the Lillian Baylis Theatre, in August 1995.

Tales of the Desert - This work reflects true-life stories of the plight of Kurdish people. A collaboration with writer Teresa Thornhill including live music.