The Barbican Centre has once again raised the bar for cultural programming, unveiling an autumn-winter Theatre & Dance season that promises to ignite imaginations, challenge perceptions, and welcome audiences of all ages into a world of international artistry.
This year’s line-up is nothing short of ambitious, opening with two epic-scale UK premieres from Europe’s most visionary directors. French-Vietnamese theatre-maker Caroline Guiela Nguyen makes her much-anticipated UK debut with LACRIMA (25–27 September), a hauntingly beautiful, multi-lingual drama that gently exposes the hidden human costs behind the glittering façade of the luxury fashion industry. Hot on its heels, acclaimed Polish director Łukasz Twarkowski brings ROHTKO (2–5 October) to the Barbican Theatre—a bold and electrifying exploration of art, legacy, and the stories we leave behind.
Dance lovers are in for a treat as the Barbican welcomes the return of Dance Umbrella, London’s festival for boundary-pushing choreography. This season, the spotlight falls on Change Tempo (8–9 October), a double bill introducing distinctive artists from Australia and Spain, each redefining what dance can be. The Hall also hosts the previously announced Gesualdo Passione (16 October), a powerful collaboration with the Barbican’s Music department.
The Pit, the Barbican’s intimate performance space, transforms into a hub of radical creativity this season. Award-winning company KISS WITNESS premieres Prayers for a Hungry Ghost (29 October–1 November), a darkly comedic work born from the Barbican’s prestigious Open Lab talent development programme. Meanwhile, CN Lester returns with their sixth edition of the celebrated Transpose Pit Party—Subverse (12–15 November), curated by ILĀ and directed by Jamie Hale, which showcases some of the UK’s most exciting trans artists and non-conforming voices.
As the festive season approaches, the Barbican makes space for wonder with Univers (3–13 December), an immersive, sensory journey into outer space, specially designed for children aged 0–2. Led by the female-driven Catalan company Engruna Teatre, this magical production invites even the tiniest theatre-goers—and their grown-ups—on a voyage of discovery, play, and imagination.
From epic-scale drama and boundary-breaking dance to radical storytelling and sensory adventures for the very young, the Barbican’s autumn-winter Theatre & Dance programme is a testament to the power of performance to connect, challenge, and inspire. Whether you’re a seasoned culture-seeker or new to the world of theatre and dance, this is a season that invites everyone to step into the extraordinary.
For further information, please visit the Barbican Centre website.
Images, provided courtesy of Barbican Centre
Main DU25 La Chachi, Random Taranto, credit Eneko
DU25 Lilian Steiner, Siren Dance, credit Gregory Lorenzutti
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