The Secret Sharer

In this world premiere performance, Joseph Conrad’s acclaimed novella is adapted to tell a powerful tale of two men, outsiders in their societies, who forge a shared, intimate, and healing connection against all odds.

DNAWORKS’s bold, world premiere adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s 1909 novella The Secret Sharer transforms the text into a powerful multimedia performance blending dance, music, sound, text, and art installation. Often considered an early Queer text, The Secret Sharer tells the story of two men—a ship’s Captain and a stowaway accused of murder—and the bond the two develop as the stowaway is secretly sheltered in the Captain’s quarters. 

In keeping with DNAWORKS’s signature storycircle practice, audience members create the ship’s perimeter and are invited to share their own stories throughout the performance, inviting a collaborative space where audiences co-create the environment. 

In the face of violence and discrimination, the characters at the center of this story reveal the healing which often arises in the presence of vulnerability, intimacy, and resilience.