Dante or Die: “I Do” Part of Barbican’s Scene Change Season at Malmaison Hotel - London - Six Rooms. One Wedding. So Many Secrets. Dante or Die’s immersive hit lays bare the private tensions and chaos in the final ten minutes before a wedding, all witnessed from an at times uncomfortably close and intimate range.
When I first heard about “I Do”, a Dante or Die production, I was immediately drawn to the concept of the audience being split into small groups and moving between hotel rooms. Now having had that real fly on the wall experience of the various layers of all these different relationships, it felt like even I, as an audience member was part of the action. “I Do” created and conceived by Daphna Attias and Terry O’Donovan, with writing by Chloë Moss was first conceived in 2013 and was immediately chosen as the show to revive and bring back to life to celebrate Dante or Die Production’s 20th year anniversary. Attias and O’Donovan speak about the heart and soul of why the show was originally made still holding strong. Why do people still get married? What does a life-long partnership really mean? How do those decisions we make when we are much younger impact us in our old age? The script has been updated to reflect the life realities of 2026 but its core remains the same. How love and relationships are completely relevant today and all the layers and challenges those relationships bring will always have us as humans curious.
Dante or Die, the award-winning, internationally recognised theatre company co-founded by Attias and O’Donovan, has built its reputation on creating immersive, site-specific performances that pull audiences so deeply into another reality, that stepping back into the everyday world feels almost shocking. “I DO” continues this approach, dividing its audience into small groups, with each member of a group given a coloured wedding corsage (handed back after show) to wear. This keeps the groups in a nice orderly fashion moving around the various scenes within the hotel rooms. It has to be said our group was expertly led by staff member Nathania who gently prompted us when to leave a hotel room and move on to the next one. Malmaison London, was our venue and I have to say a perfect environment for “I Do” - the design aspects in each room were wonderful - with attention to detail on props remarkable! I was lucky enough to catch Costume and Props Designer Jenny Hayton, after the show and we spoke about the various props I had nosied at, particularly in the bathrooms of the hotel performance space. So creative. Within each of the rooms we the audience could sit on beds, chairs, ledges although we might get gently moved by Nathania if we were really in the way of the actors spot. All these encounters were each a private, tense, and intimate window into the moments before a wedding.
The performance is structured as a promenade, audiences move in small groups from room to room, witnessing overlapping stories, a best man’s speech unraveling, a bride caught between nerves and expectation, family secrets rippling through the corridors. Every glance, whispered word, and hidden truth matters. This intimacy, combined with Dante or Die’s signature attention to detail and cinematic theatricality, makes the experience feel intensely personal, almost voyeuristic.
The ensemble cast, Geoff Atwell (Gordon), Alice Brittain (Lizzy), Fred Fergus (Nick), Manish Gandhi (Joe), Dauda Ladejobi (Tunde), Carla Langley (Georgina), Jonathan McGuinnes (David), Johanne Murdock (Helen), Tessie Orange-Turner (Abigail), Terry O’Donovan / Rowena Le Poer Trench (The Cleaner), and Fiona Watson (Eileen) all deliver subtle, layered performances that bring each fragment of the narrative to life. Standout moments include the tension-filled exchanges between the bride and groom’s circle, and the quietly devastating glimpses into family secrets, all of which resonate long after the performance ends.
Knowing the company’s history, touring over 90 venues, engaging more than 5,500 participants, and creating work that consistently amplifies voices often unheard, adds depth to the experience. Their commitment to exploring bold, sometimes uncomfortable subject matter, whether live or digitally, is evident here. The transitions between rooms, the quiet rhythms, and the minimalism of the staging allow space for reflection, echoing the company’s broader philosophy of storytelling that is immersive and human-centered.
“I DO” is a quietly challenging, deeply immersive exploration of marriage, secrecy, and intimacy. For anyone familiar with Dante or Die’s work, or experiencing it for the first time it is a testament to why the company has earned international acclaim. “I Do” tour dates as follows:
Reviewer - Mary Fogg
On - 20th January
No comments:
Post a Comment