Lonely Together is an immersive performance that blends dance, live music and theatre, keeping the audience at the heart of the action. Directed and choreographed by Benke Rydman and inspired by the music of Avicii, the show explores themes of pain, connection and shared experience in an unconventional and visual way.
If I had to describe the Lonely Together performance in one word, I would say that the show is relevant. From trendy local spa retreat references to the absolute real-life mockery of modern dating, Lonely Together skillfully caters to the Stockholm audience and the topics we all watch reels about.
Told as separate stories of the main characters, the ambition is to make the audience feel that the problems discussed on stage are very relatable and real. While keeping the overall impression on a light, positive note, the show steadily introduces more complex ideas of family dramas, regrets, abusive relationships and many other topics of substance that we rarely wear on our sleeves.
Since superficial check-ins and small talk are the bread and butter of every modern adult who works, deals with all the daily to-dos, goes (or tries to go) to the gym and catches up with friends every now and then (but definitely not often enough), there is rarely a good 30-minute slot in your calendar to open up to your close friend about that deeply buried generational trauma that is conditioning your life. Instead, we usually just say that we are “fine”.
Here, the name of the show and Avicii’s song, Lonely Together, ties in perfectly with the mood in today’s society – Rydman’s show convinces that it is okay to feel lonely, but it is also okay to share your loneliness with someone else. It suggests that the real connection cannot come from only sending each other memes and monthly meetups to share status reports on what has already been lived. Instead, real closeness is built on opening up about the imperfect, honest and sometimes messy parts of our lives.
While the audience follows the journey of the main characters, an invisible omen of Avicii’s tragic end was hanging over everyone’s head in the most emotional moments, working as a warning of what could happen.
Throughout the show, the community-building feeling ramps up, inviting the audience to connect under different scenarios – holding hands, dancing together and looking at each other. For the introverted ones, it is safe to say that the intent was about non-verbal connection and how easy it is to take the first step. Over time, people were definitely more open to direct contact with others and were also initiating it.
In terms of the strong ties to Avicii’s repertoire, you don’t need to be an Avicii lover to enjoy the performance. Although if you connect with his music style and enjoy the immersive rhythms, you might get more caught up in the moment, feeling it and dancing through the show.
The standing ticket is a must for a full-on experience and, most importantly, everyone can choose for themselves in what way and how much they want to get involved.
For those openly searching for or subconsciously craving a relevant rant on life, Lonely Together is a must-see. I believe that everyone would find at least a moment they could see themselves in and put it in their pocket for future reflection and unpacking.
The show is running at Kulturhuset until May 23, 2026. Don’t miss it!
Featured photo: Sören Vilks
