Interiors

Winter. Behind a window, in a cosy room, a group of friends gather for a meal. The lamps are on, everyone is happy. Talk begins and stories unfold around the table. There is laughing, flirting, joking, eating and dancing. But sadness soon threads its way through the occasion, marked by the appearance of a mysterious stranger outside the window.

Utterly hypnotic, deeply mysterious and powerfully intense, Interiors is an internationally acclaimed production, which has toured across the world.

WINNER Best Production, Best Director & Best Ensemble - Critics Awards for Theatre Scotland 2009
WINNER Argus Angel Award 2012

Press

“★★★★★ A beguiling piece of theatre that is sad, funny and heartbreakingly humane… the subtext comes across more volubly than classic Chekhov… deliciously poignant.”

— The Guardian

“★★★★★ An exquisite fusion of heightened behaviour married to a gorgeously languid atmosphere of sanctuary created by Finn Ross’s projections, Kai Fischer’s lighting and Alasdair Macrae’s melancholy piano score. Combined, a poignantly beautiful thumbnail sketch of human lives in motion is the result.”

— The Herald

“★★★★★ Through its juxtaposition of humour, heartbreak and the accumulation of seemingly insignificant events to reveal the sadness and isolation each character feels, the show is mesmerising and reminiscent of Chekhov’s short stories at their best”

— Metro

“★★★★★ It’s hilarious… this production wraps its comedy in a sense of mortal peril and, consequently, great pathos… Matthew Lenton’s production puts its chilling finger on the pulse of what makes us want to get drunk, fling our limbs around wildly to ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ and touch each other – even when that touch is tragicomically unwelcome.”

— Time Out

“★★★★★ ‘Interiors nails the reality of the human experience, tragedy next to joy, pettiness next to generosity. It’s Chekhovian too as it captures the mortality lurking behind every life… Absorbing, beautifully nuanced with superb acting and direction, it is the best play I’ve seen this year.’”

— The Skinny

Credits

Originally a co-production with Napoli Teatro Festival Italia, Mercadante Teatro Stabile di Napoli and Traverse Theatre in association with Lyric Hammersmith and Tron Theatre. Interiors was developed with the support of the National Theatre Studio.

Conceived and directed by Matthew Lenton
Set and lighting design by Kai Fischer
Music and sound design by Alasdair Macrae
Projection and video design by Finn Ross for Mesmer
Costume design by Eve Lambert
Story and text by the Company
Dramaturgy by Pamela Carter

Associate Director: Davide Pini Carenzi (2022)
Assistant Director Sarah Short (2016)
Assistant Director Rebecca Morris (2012)
Assistant Director Rosie Kellagher (2010/11/12)

Production Credits (2022)
Production Manager: Fiona Fraser
Stage Manager: Lee Davis
Deputy Stage Manager: Kara Jackson
Technical Stage Manager: Dave Stabback
Lighting Supervisor and Re-lighter: Andrew Gannon
Video Supervisor: Andrew Reid
Video filming and edits: Tim Reid
Sound Engineer: Amir Sherhan
Costume Supervisor: Kathryn Weaving
Set Build: B Scenic
Scenic Painting: Pretty Scenic

Photography Tim Morozzo / Mihaela Bodlovic / Niall Walker

Performers (2022)

Stefan Adegbola, Lola Aluko, Elicia Daly, Pauline Goldsmith, Paul Thomas Hickey, Kristian Lustre, Sergio Di Paola and Aurora Peres. Understudies: Davide Pini Carenzi and Alana Jackson

Performers (2018)
Olivia Barrowclough, Elicia Daly, Pauline Goldsmith, Paul Thomas Hickey, John Kazek, Peter Kelly, Aurora Peres, Davide Pini Carenzi

Performers (2016)
Elicia Daly, John Kazek, Peter Kelly, Aurora Peres, Davide Pini Carenzi, Barnaby Power, Barbara Rafferty, Ruby Richardson

Performers (2014)
Paul Thomas Hickey, Peter Kelly, Gemma McElhinney, Aurora Peres, Davide Pini Carenzi, Ruby Richardson, Ann Scott-Jones, George Lasha

Performers (2012/13)
Paul Thomas Hickey, Peter Kelly, Aurora Peres, Davide Pini Carenzi, Ruby Richardson, Ann Scott-Jones, Rosalind Sydney, Damir Todorovic

Performers (2012)
Robert Jack, Peter Kelly, Aurora Peres, Davide Pini Carenzi, Ruby Richardson, Ann Scott-Jones, Rosalind Sydney, Damir Todorovic

Performers (2011)
Robert Jack, Peter Kelly, Sara Lazzaro, Aurora Peres, Davide Pini Carenzi, Ann Scott-Jones, Rosalind Sydney, Damir Todorovic

Performers (2010)
Elspeth Brodie, Sara Lazzaro, Andrew Melville, Aurora Peres, Davide Pini Carenzi, Barnaby Power, Ann Scott-Jones, Damir Todorovic

Performers (2009)
Elicia Daly, Sara Lazzaro, Myra McFadyen, Andrew Melville, Aurora Peres, Davide Pini Carenzi, Barnaby Power, Damir Todorovic

Performance history

Wed 2 - Sat 5 February 2022
Barbican, London
London International Mime Festival

Thu 27 - Fri 28 January 2022
Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock

28 November - 01 December, 2019
Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai, China
Presented by Beijing 707 N-Theatre Co

22 November - 24 November, 2019
Donggong Theatre, Beijing, China
Presented by Beijing 707 N-Theatre Co

15 November - 17 November, 2019
Myeongdong Theater, Seoul, South Korea
Presented by The National Theatre Company of Korea

24 October - 25 October, 2018
Shanghai Grand Theatre
Shanghai International Mime Festival
Presented by Beijing 707 N-theatre Co. Ltd and Edinburgh Fringe Showcase in China

05 August - 08 August, 2016
The Lyceum
Edinburgh International Festival
www.eif.co.uk
Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland

24 November - 25 November, 2014
The 3rd International Festival of World Classics: New Classics of Europe

17 October - 20 October, 2013
Teatro Municipal de las Condes, Santiago A Mil

11 October - 13 October, 2013
Teatro Regio, Buenos Aires International Festival

26 October - 28 October, 2012
Stanislavsky Season International Theatre Festival, Moscow, Russia

08 May - 10 May, 2012
Brighton Festival

20 April - 21 April, 2012
BOZAR, Brussels, Belgium

18 May - 22 May, 2011
Teatro Eliseo, Rome, Italy

12 May - 13 May, 2011
Teatro Storchi, Modena, Italy

02 November - 06 November, 2010
Theatre de la Ville, Paris

20 October - 21 October, 2010
Unity Theatre, Liverpool

15 October - 16 October, 2010
Canolflan Celfyddydau, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth