Press room

• Images + video can be downloaded here: AUTUMN 2025 
   

The Barbican Centre today announces its Theatre & Dance programme running over autumn-winter this year, presenting international work for all ages across its theatres. The line-up features UK premieres of epic-scale multidisciplinary work from two of Europe’s most sought-after directors; the return of Dance Umbrella spotlighting choreographers making their London debuts and challenging expectations of dance; award-winning artists transforming The Pit into radical spaces of belonging with experimental blends of physical theatre, storytelling and sound; and over the festive period, under-2s join Catalan artists on an immersive sensory journey in outer space. 

Two major UK premieres start off the season in the Barbican Theatre: French-Vietnamese theatre and filmmaker Caroline Guiela Nguyen making her UK debut with LACRIMA (25 – 27 Sept), a hauntingly beautiful, multi-lingual drama shedding light on the hidden personal cost behind the luxury fashion industry; followed by Polish director Łukasz Twarkowski’s electrifying exploration of art and legacy, ROHTKO (2 – 5 Oct). 

In The Pit, the programme continues with a vibrant mix of premieres, cross-genre storytelling, and intimate encounters. Dance Umbrella introduces distinctive artists from Australia and Spain in Change Tempo (8-9 Oct), a double bill challenging expectations of dance, as well as previously announced Gesualdo Passione (16 Oct) in the Hall in collaboration with the Barbican’s Music department. Award-winning company KISS WITNESS premieres the darkly comedic Prayers for a Hungry Ghost (29 Oct – 1 Nov), created through the Barbican’s prestigious Open Lab talent development programme. CN Lester returns with a sixth edition of their Transpose Pit Party; Subverse (12 - 15 Nov) celebrates non-conforming work and features some of the UK’s most exciting trans artists, curated by ILĀ and directed by Jamie Hale. As the festive season gets underway, female-led Catalan company Engruna Teatre make their London debut with Univers (3 – 13 Dec), a magical sensory experience for 0-2 year olds. 

Tickets are now on sale to Barbican Premier Patrons, Principal Patrons, Director’s Circle Patrons, Barbican Patrons, and Barbican Members Plus, with tickets available tomorrow at 10am for Barbican Members and general sale on Sat 10 May from 10am via barbican.org.uk.  

Toni Racklin, Barbican Head of Theatre & Dance, said: 

“We are so pleased to announce a striking Theatre & Dance line-up for autumn-winter 2025, presenting work that embodies the breadth and ambition of the Barbican’s boundary-pushing international programme. This season invites audiences to experience the power of live performance to connect, provoke and inspire. We continue to champion cross-disciplinary experimentation to bring together a programme of extraordinary artists from around the world who challenge convention and shed light our lives in all their complexity.” 


For more information, please download the full announcement press release from the sidebar.