An immersive audio-visual piece that is “a deliciously unnerving experience” (★★★★The Guardian)
A unique and unforgettable fable for our times
“An exquisitely told story of resilience, violence and hope”
★★★★ The Guardian
“Artistically and technologically pioneering… Stevenson relays the story with her usual impeccable verbal poise” ★★★★ Daily Telegraph
“An exhilarating testament to the power and necessity of art… a unique and unforgettable achievement” Metro
“A triumph” The New York Times
As the lights change at a junction in a big city, a car remains motionless, its driver unable to go on. Suddenly, without warning or cause, he has lost his sight. It soon becomes clear that this is a blindness like no other, infecting all who come into proximity to it. Within days, it has spread throughout the city. The government tries to arrest the contagion by herding the newly blind into a disused asylum. But its attempts are futile. The city is in panic.
Tony Award winner for his stage adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Simon Stephens has adapted Nobel Prize-winner José Saramago’s dystopian novel Blindness as a sound installation, directed by Walter Meierjohann with immersive binaural sound design by Ben and Max Ringham. Juliet Stevenson voices the Storyteller/Doctor’s wife in this gripping story of the rise and, ultimately, profoundly hopeful end of an unimaginable global pandemic.
This ticketed installation has a limited number of seats spaced in pairs throughout the auditorium for social distancing, facing in different directions. Audience members in pairs will be assigned seats together if available. All audience members will listen on headphones as the narrative unfolds around them.
Performed in English
Approx 1 hr 15 mins with no interval
Latecomers will not be admitted
Recommended for ages 15 and above
The installation includes loud noises, extended periods of complete blackout, strobe lighting and bright flashing lights in close proximity to the audience
This installation includes strong language, discussion of sexual assault, descriptions of acts of physical assault and explorations of psychological trauma
A socially distanced sound installation
With the voice of
Juliet StevensonBased on the novel by
José SaramagoAdapted by
Simon StephensDirected by
Walter MeierjohannSound Designers
Ben and Max Ringham Designer
Lizzie Clachan Lighting Designer
Jessica Hung Han YunProduction Consultant
Professor Hannah Thompson＿Resident Assistant Director
Sara Aniqah MalikRead the House Programme
