The Nervous Atmosphere World Premiere Season

A Chamber Made Work by Zoë Barry

Co-Presented by Arts House, Chamber Made and Zoë Barry

World Premiere

‘I was struck by lightning. Three times. This is what happened.’ – Zoë Barry

The Nervous Atmosphere is a new solo performance by cellist, composer and theatre-maker Zoë Barry. A haunting and poetic reflection on her real-life experience of being struck by lightning three times, The Nervous Atmosphere explores the myriad strange symptoms, chaos and confusion provoked by this bizarre and terrifying experience.

Told through text, live cello and striking design, this powerfully evocative work offers glimpses into the immense emotional and psychological schisms experienced throughout an overwhelming encounter with nature.

A hypnotic meditation on the relationship between fear, consciousness, nature and vibration, The Nervous Atmosphere combines Zoë’s real-life experience and her fascination with late nineteenth century parascientific investigations; a time in history when science, medicine, spiritualism, and psychoanalysis were crossing over in curious ways.

The Nervous Atmosphere conjures the awe, rupture and isolation we experience when faced with a situation so much larger than ourselves, then navigates a return pathway to a place of connection and grounding.