Life is a Dream

Award-winning international theatre company Cheek by Jowl presents a radical new version of a Spanish classic.

A prince is chained in a mountain from birth, following a prophecy that he is destined to become a tyrant. Upon release, he discovers a world completely different to the one he’s always known. Is this reality, or is it all just a dream?

Formed in 1981, Cheek by Jowl has performed in over 50 countries with works in English, French, Russian and Italian. The company returns to the International Festival after their 2016 production of Measure for Measure, with one of dramatist Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s best-known and most studied works. Life is a Dream – listed as one of the 40 greatest plays of all time – marks their first Spanish-language production, performed by an ensemble of Spanish actors.

Acclaimed Director Declan Donnelan tells us about the creative process that informed this new interpretation of a Spanish classic.

0 Stars

A roller-coaster of surprises... uncomfortable, controversial, brilliant.

ABC

Supported by

Programme

Pedro Calderón de la Barca

Co-produced by Cheek by Jowl, Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico (CNTC Madrid) and LAZONA; in collaboration with the Barbican, London and Scène Nationale d’ALBI-Tarn, France

Declan Donnellan Director
Nick Ormerod
Designer
Josete Corral Assistant Director
Ganecha Gil Lighting Designer
Fernando Epelde Sound Designer and Composer
Amaya Galeote Movement Director
Pedro Víllora Dramaturgy Advisor
Alessio Meloni
Assistant Designer
Juan Ollero
Interpreter

Cast
Ernesto Arias, Prince Ezeanyim, Rebeca Matellán, Manuel Moya, Alfredo Noval, Goizalde Núñez, Irene Serrano, Antonio Prieto and Jorge Uson