Miet Warlop
INHALE DELIRIUM EXHALE
3 - 6 Feb 2027MimeLondon -
supporting contemporary visual theatre
Plexus Polaire
A DOLL'S HOUSE
Barbican Theatre. Wed 3 > Sat 6 Feb. 2027 UK Premiere
Masterfully crafted life-sized puppets and striking visuals combine in this remarkable take on Ibsen's classic drama about grabbing hold of freedom.
And then there are spiders...
Nora lives a seemingly perfect domestic life with her husband, Torvald. But beneath the surface, she's beginning to question the roles and expectations that have shaped her life.
Taking its cue from the dance of the tarantella in Act Two, this eerie and arresting reimagining of the 19th-century drama sees Plexus Polaire's Artistic Director, Yngvild Aspeli, take on the central role of Nora, voicing both the character and the puppets who form her household. As spiders increasingly encroach upon her, the boundaries between reality and nightmare begin to blur.
Directed by Yngvild Aspeli and Paola Rizza, this extraordinary piece explores freedom, identity, power and the roles we perform for others – and ourselves.
The French-Norwegian theatre company returns to the Barbican following its sold-out run of Moby Dick in 2025. Using puppets, acting, music, light and video, they develop visual worlds that bring our most buried feelings to life.
Content warning: This production features puppet spiders of varying sizes. It contains some upsetting scenes and dark themes.
............................................................................................
Wed-Sat 7.45pm
Runs 80 mins/no interval
Age guidance: 14+
This production features puppet spiders of varying sizes. It contains some upsetting scenes and dark themes.
Performed in English
After-show discussion: Thu 4 Feb
Presented by the Barbican
Supported by MimeLondon
“Brilliantly inventive”
“A show of incredible force”
“Her staging is a marvel. Bravo!”
“A powerful work, supported by a breathtaking visual and sound score”
Photos: Johan Karlsson