La Vida es Sueño was a devised, immersive reimagining of Calderón de la Barca’s 17th-century Spanish classic, directed by Peter Farbridge, performed for a standing audience with combined shadow play, multimedia, and live performance to transport viewers into a dreamlike version of 17th-century Poland. The piece explored the boundaries between illusion and reality in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and digital manipulation.

I played the role of King Basilio a character caught in the grip of fate, power, and the existential weight of his choices. Taking on this role was both a great honor and a transformative challenge. To embody Basilio’s presence and authority, I had to adjust my physicality, voice, and emotional depth, ultimately stepping fully into the mindset of a monarch burdened by prophecy and control.

The creation of this piece was a truly collaborative process. As an ensemble, we built a world where movement, text, and visuals worked together to question what is real and what is constructed. Working under Peter Farbridge’s thoughtful direction and alongside such a creative team deepened my appreciation for theatre as a medium that not only tells stories, but also interrogates the world around us. This experience reminded me why I love making theatre that dares to challenge perception and invites the audience to step into uncertainty.