The House of Bernarda Alba

In The House of Bernarda Alba, five sisters struggle against their mother's oppressive control, leading to a fierce confrontation between desire and duty.

In The House of Bernarda Alba, the story unfolds in a household dominated by the oppressive matriarch, Bernarda Alba, who enforces strict rules following her husband's death. Her five daughters are confined within the walls of their home, mourning their father while battling the suffocating control of their mother. Each daughter represents a different response to this repression, but it is the youngest, Adela, who dares to challenge the status quo and yearns for passion and freedom, setting off a chain of events that could shatter their fragile existence.

The tension escalates as Adela's rebellion against her mother's authoritarian rule threatens to expose the family's hidden desires and secrets. As the sisters grapple with their own identities and aspirations, the consequences of Bernarda's oppressive regime become increasingly dire. The play serves as a poignant exploration of the struggles faced by women in a patriarchal society, highlighting the impact of societal norms on personal freedom and familial relationships.

This new adaptation by Alice Birch breathes fresh life into Federico García Lorca's timeless work, illuminating the dark themes of repression and desire. With Olivier Award-winner Harriet Walter portraying the formidable Bernarda, the world premiere at the National Theatre in November 2023 promises to be a powerful and thought-provoking experience that resonates with contemporary audiences.