The Barbican has unveiled Scene Change, its Spring 2026 Theatre & Dance season, promising transformative performances in unexpected spaces across London.
Running from January to April, Scene Change invites audiences to experience intimate encounters in hotels, foyers, and even supper clubs, while the Barbican Theatre and The Pit undergo essential maintenance.
Toni Racklin, Barbican Head of Theatre & Dance, said:
“Live performance holds a tremendous power to combat isolation and division in modern society. With our Scene Change programme this spring, we invite audience members to take a new journey through our Centre and neighbouring venues to experience intimate performances in unusual settings.”
Highlights of the season include:
- Dante or Die revives its immersive hit I Do, a site-specific experience set in six hotel rooms during the final ten minutes before a wedding. The production runs at Malmaison London from 20 January to 8 February.
- Fevered Sleep brings This Grief Thing to the Barbican Studio from 12 to 22 February. This free pop-up shop and art installation opens conversations around grief and loss.
- Landmark Productions and Octopus Theatricals present the UK premiere of Theatre for One from 12 to 22 March. This unique experience features six short plays by Irish writers, performed for one audience member at a time.
- Belarus Free Theatre returns with Kitchen Revolution on 31 March and 1 April. This secret supper club combines Belarusian cuisine with provocative discussion on democracy and freedom.
The season also sees the return of Barbican Artistic Associate Boy Blue with its acclaimed hip hop show Cycles.
Devyani Saltzman, Director for Arts & Participation, added:
“In a time when arts funding and opportunities to take creative risks are under threat, we have been determined to bring back Open Lab. It is more important than ever to build pathways that support artists to make creative leaps.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
