Hailed as a masterpiece by more than one critic, Montreal choreographer Sylvain Émard’s Fragments – Volume 1 debuted at Brighton Festival with plenty of expectation.

The captivating and at times viscerally disorientating performance was made up of a collage of solos and duets that left a lasting impression.

Émard’s eclectic troupe of performers interlocked, swiveled and cowered in varying degrees of elegance and unease.

Fragments captured the distinctive worlds of four performers - actress Monique Miller and dancers Laurence Ramsay, Manuel Roque and Kimberley de Jong.

Miller's minimalist gestures were contrasted against the dancers' raw energy, the montage of pushes, picks and pulls showing the complexities and vulnerabilities of the individuals.

One man was beside himself with restlessness and angst, a young woman was trying to reconcile her inner and outer selves, while the couple pushed and pulled at one another.

The patchwork of moments seemed inspired by the personalities, preoccupations and dreams of his muses, the dancers at the very heart of creation.

The set design evoked claustrophobic prison, while the lights fragmented the dancers’ bodies into these patterns.

Speaking to The Argus earlier this week Émard described Volume 1 as about “the notion of urgency”.

But it was the outstanding performances which shone through in the show.

Four stars