© Marwan Magroun
The Architect
Apr 8 -
Apr 25
ITA / Rebecca Frecknall
© Fabian Calis
The Architect weaves ambition and doubt, power and vulnerability, reality and dreams into a compelling psychological game. It is a story about a woman teetering on the edge of her own self-made world—grappling with the fear of being replaced, existential uncertainty, and the looming threat of impermanence. What is the true price of success? And is it really pride that comes before the fall?
'Marieke Heebink impresses as an eager, tormented, grieving architect.' - Theaterkrant
- Date
- May 27, 2026 - April 25, 2027
- Duration
- 75 min, no interval
- Genre
- Theatre
- Surtitles
- Available at one or more shows
- Location
- Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam
Sela is an architect at the peak of her career. Her ambition and drive to be the best know no bounds. Brick by brick, she has built her own success—partly by exploiting the weaknesses of others.
When the young and passionate Hilde enters her world, full of dreams and ambitions, she ignites a deep insecurity within the architect and brings with her a danger that threatens Sela’s world.
Tickets and times
© Fabian Calis
© Fabian Calis
"I've spent my life fighting my way through one generation of men, I'm not about to open the door for the next lot."
From: The Architect
© Fabian Calis
© Fabian Calis
Rebecca Frecknall
Rebecca Frecknall is an award-winning British director who has worked extensively in the UK and internationally. She is Associate Director at the Almeida Theatre in London, and will take on the same role at The Old Vic from 2026. In 2024, she made her acclaimed ITA debut with Julie. Since 2025, Frecknall has been affiliated with ITA as the Ibsen Artist in Residence, a position supported by the Philip Loubser Foundation. As part of this residency, she now directs The Architect—a timely, contemporary adaptation of Ibsen’s classic The Master Builder.
Her productions are known for their profound psychological depth, compelling character development, and strong social and political resonance. Frecknall’s reinterpretations of classic works effortlessly highlight underlying social issues, making them strikingly relevant for today’s audiences.
She directed Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (winner of seven Olivier Awards, including Best Director and Best Musical Revival 2022, as well as the Critics' Circle Award for Best Director 2022), and the critically acclaimed A Streetcar Named Desire and Summer and Smoke. Both productions won the Olivier Award for Best Revival and were nominated for Best Director. They are now also being staged on Broadway in New York.
© Fabian Calis
Cast
© Marwan Magroun
Eefje Paddenburg
© Marwan Magroun
Ilke Paddenburg
© Marwan Magroun
Janni Goslinga
© Marwan Magroun
Sanne den Hartogh
© Fabian Calis
Eelco Smits
Behind the scenes
© Fabian Calis
© Fabian Calis
Credits
after
The Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen
adaptation and direction
Rebecca Frecknall
translation
Aus Greidanus jr.
English translation
Charlotte Barslund
stage design
Chloe Lamford
lighting design
Jack Knowles
sound design
George Dennis
costume design
An D'Huys
assistant director
Maria Luttikhuis
private prodcuers
Joost & Marcelle Kuiper, Mechteld Daniels & Joris Kaak, Helga Lasschuijt & Dirk Raes en Hendrik Jan ten Have & Gabriella de Rooij
this production is supported by
the Philip Loubser Foundation, within the Ibsen Artist in Residency of Rebecca Frecknall, and Ammodo Art
© Marwan Magroun
© Marwan Magroun
© Marwan Magroun
© Marwan Magroun
© Marwan Magroun
© Fabian Calis
This production is supported by
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