Four Quartets

Published 75 years ago, Four Quartets is considered the crowning achievement of TS Eliot’s career as a poet. Today three visionaries respond to the cycle in a ravishing union of dance, music and art.

Celebrated New York-based choreographer Pam Tanowitz taps into Eliot’s four-part poem, a mysterious meditation on past and present, time and space, movement and stillness, replete with images of dance. Her ten-strong ensemble moves lavishly through glorious solos and duets to a beguiling score by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho played live, while actor Kathleen Chalfant narrates from the stage, capturing the dynamic and kinetic language of Four Quartets.

The evocative stage design centres on paintings by major American artist Brice Marden, their exquisite colours and strokes each making connections to the geographical locations of the masterpiece’s four individual parts. Containing piercing and unforgettable literary passages, this unprecedented collaborative performance of the work is the first to be authorised by the TS Eliot Estate.

Theatre & dance Members' Priority Booking

Duration: 1 hour 30 mins, no interval
Age guidance 10+

Thu 23 May, 6pm
Pre-show talk for members

Fri 24 May
Captioned performance

Fri 24 May
Post-show talk
Free to same-day ticket holders

Presented by the Barbican

Co-commissioned by the Barbican, Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Produced by Bard SummerScape

Standard £25-45

Members

Members and Members Plus enjoy 20% off ticket prices for this show.

No booking fee. Discounted tickets subject to availability.

Become a member

Young Barbican

£15

Aged 14–25? Join Young Barbican for free.

No booking fee. Subject to availability.

Concessions & discounts

Under 16
Save 50%. Proof of age required on collection.

Students
Students are entitled to half-price tickets in advance for Wednesday evening. Proof of eligibility required on collection.

Schools
£12 per ticket. Call the Groups line on 020 7382 7211 to book. 1 free teacher’s ticket is available for every 10 students.

Access
Visitors with access requirements who have joined our Access Membership scheme may be eligible for reductions on tickets. Call the Box Office on 020 7638 8891. For Minicom facilities, call 07710 854 085.

Groups (10+)
Save 20%. Call the Groups line on 020 7382 7211.

Corporate Discounts
Save 25%. More info

Discounts are not available on lowest price tickets and are subject to availability. Discounts do not apply to associated talks, films or workshops. They cannot be combined to make greater savings.

*Excludes £3 booking fee