The Dance of Death

Teater Dictat presents a new production of The Dance of Death in autumn 2026, premiering at Varberg Theatre on 28 August with performances on tour in September. British dramaturg and director Matthew Short is responsible for the adaptation and direction.

In this version, Strindberg's play is set in a dystopian future where the climate crisis has accelerated into an immediate threat. The famous marriage is reimagined as a same-sex couple within the colonial ruling class on a fictional Scottish island. The play has been adapted into English and translated back into Swedish - with the original only glimpsed in the background - and employs ecodramaturgy, a queer approach, and particular attention to minority culture.

The production is created in collaboration with the Scottish Perth Theatre, where an English version is planned for spring 2027 with a partially overlapping ensemble. Matthew Short and Johan Svensson work together, bringing a British perspective to the Swedish and a Swedish perspective to the British.