16th – 19th January 2025, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre

Performed in Polish with English subtitles.

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Łukasz Twarkowski, one of the most interesting directors of his generation, makes his highly anticipated London debut with this adaptation of the dystopian sci-fi epic by Olga Ravn, nominated for the International Booker Prize 2021.

About the play

Under the watchful eye of a mysterious Organisation, the employees of the 6000 Spaceship are exploring the New Discovered – a planet far away from Earth.

But among them, who is human, and who is a human-like humanoid?

The monotony of their daily routine is suddenly interrupted when, with the help of mysterious objects, a longing for Earth awakens their innermost desires.

This visually striking dark satire – perfect for fans of Kubrick – seamlessly blends theatre, film, and installation with bold creativity.

Set in an undefined near future,The Employees takes place aboard a spaceship inhabited by humans and humanoid robots, long after Earth has been destroyed. 

The story unfolds through the fragmentary scraps of reports left by the spaceship crew. Under these extreme conditions, a closed community is forced to confront questions: What separates the human from the non-human? Is the mind simply the brain, or something more?

Suitable for ages 16 and above.

Find out more about the play and about the content warnings here.

The Employees is supported by the Polish Cultural Institute in London.

Photo credit: Natalia Kabanow