MARA

By Dominic Kelly

It’s 1868. Morten is a discharged soldier scraping a living on his croft on the edge of Sweden’s ancient forests. His life is blighted by insomnia and filled with troubles made up largely in his own head.

Suddenly he begins to suffer nightmares. A friend tells him he’s plagued by a Mara – a possessed person who visits another in spirit form as they sleep. To free himself from a Mara, he must discover their identity. But who is it?

Funny, unsettling, beautiful and moving, this solo storytelling performance is

a whodunnit

a deep dive into the dreamscape of Swedish folklore

a delve into our oldest forests

a journey through our tortuous relationship with sleep

and an exploration of what it might mean to be really awake

You’ll be transported, entertained, immersed… and a walk in the woods might never feel the same again

REVIEWS OF DOMINIC’S PREVIOUS WORK

“What a treat” – The Times

“★★★★★From the moment he walked on to the bare stage to the final dimming of the lights 90 minutes later, he held his audience in a fierce grip… With great style, using the vernacular of today, he blended elements from stories in the Ulster Cycle into a gripping, satisfying whole. This was a rare event.”

The Cornishman, on Dominic’s performance at The Acorn in March 2015

“It shouldn’t be possible to conjure up such a rich, colourful and vibrant world in a plain, darkened room but he succeeded spectacularly.” Litfest

Dominic Kelly’s warm, witty and powerful storytelling style has captivated audiences from India to the Arctic Circle. In the UK he has performed at venues including the Barbican, National Theatre, British Museum, and The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Resident in the Lake District, he lived in Sweden for 7 years. Married into a family from northern Sweden, he knows intimately its landscape, nature, culture and folklore; in MARA, he takes you on an unforgettable journey into this place, though experiences we can all relate to.

www.dominickelly.net