Event

THE MASTER BUILDER

Henrik Ibsen's most lyrical and mysterious play, minimally adapted for four performers. Created and performed by David Amaral, Daiva Bhandari, Blake Montgomery, and Meghan Raham.

The Master Builder explores the life of architect Halvard Solness. Master Builder Solness is in the prime of his life and the height of his powers, yet is locked in a sterile and guilt-ridden marriage, desperately fighting to maintain his place in the world. The unexpected arrival of a mysterious and beautiful young woman gives Solness new life. But does she bring redemption, or is this the end for the Master Builder?

The Building Stage presents a world premiere adaptation The Master Builder created from previous translations, the original Norwegian text, and explorations through the rehearsal process. The adaptation also only uses four performers in a play with seven speaking parts. Not only are the actors reduced to the bare minimum; the production cuts away everything unnecessary, creating a minimalist and intimate staging. By stripping away period details, doubling characters, and playing with the visual world, we aim to reveal the core of the drama - the blend of realism, melodrama, tragedy, and expressionism Ibsen uses to explore the possibility of hope and the inescapable nature of fate.