Rehearsing Tomorrow: Liam Young at the Barbican
By Michelle Stannard
Venue: Barbican, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Date/s: Thursday 21st May – Sunday 6th September 2026
Type: Exhibition
Topics: humanity, dystopian futures, climate change
Disability Representation: No representation
Reviewer rating: ****
Liam Young’s In Other Worlds at the Barbican delivers an immersive sci-fi journey with haunting storytelling and incredible miniatures, making its compelling vision well worth experiencing.
Spanning six distinct futures, visitors are invited to step directly into richly detailed, alternate realities. But before I go into that, we were met with an accessibility barrier right from the start.
Entering from the exit
While there’s plenty of room to roll around once you’re inside, the start of the visit was frustrating. Because the accessible entrance is at the very end of the exhibition, my friend Jess (who walked it with me) and I had to go through the whole thing backwards, which ruined the experience of the story before we even reached the beginning.
For an immersive show all about thoughtful futures, this is a huge miss. Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought or an awkward detour; it needs to work properly from the moment you arrive.
Use of AI
Once we figured out our route, the exhibition had some mixed results, especially with the technology. While exploring speculative futures is fun, the exhibition relies a bit too much on AI-generated elements in places. Instead of feeling smooth, that overuse of AI makes certain visuals look ungrounded and disconnected from the rest of the physical show, pulling you right out of the experience.
The power of storytelling
Thankfully, the human-led elements save the day. The storytelling is fantastic. Right from the start, the opening narration is poetic and haunting, instantly pulling you into the emotional weight of these futures.
As you move through the space, you get a great mix of things to look at and listen to all at once. Tucked away at listening stations, voice actors like Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, and Maxine Peake bring these intimate stories to life. Hearing all these distinct voices narrate each unique piece makes it deeply engaging.
Magic miniatures
The best parts of ‘In Other Worlds’ are the ones that use real, physical craftsmanship instead of screens.
The exhibition shines when it shows off huge architectural scale models, meticulously crafted film miniatures of futuristic cities and landscapes. Paired with rugged, traditional costume designs made with Ane Crabtree, these physical pieces feel wonderfully grounded. You can actually feel the weight, the wear-and-tear, and the incredible care put into every single object.
I have to say, I did have a bit of a soft spot for the miniature people. They drew me in and completely added another layer to the stories being told.
Return to reality
While the earlier rooms focus on sci-fi, the final part of the exhibition hits you with reality. It stops being about far-off futures and brings you straight back to the present. By showing what is happening on our planet right now, some of the solutions that already exist and the urgency for change, it leaves you with a jolt that stays with you long after you roll out the doors.
Final impressions
’In Other Worlds’ isn’t trying to offer a neat environmental fix. Instead, it treats these futures as rehearsals for our imagination. Set against the brutalist concrete of the Barbican, it’s a striking reminder not to give up.
Plan your visit
‘In Other Worlds’ is running at the Barbican until 6th September 2026.
Step-Free Access & Arrival: The exhibition space has step-free access throughout once inside. However, visitors using step-free access are routed into the space via the exit, which means navigating the rooms in reverse order.
Accessibility Advice: Contact the Barbican Box Office ahead of your visit to arrange your step-free entry route, discuss layout navigation, and request any available access resources (such as audio-described tours or listening devices).
Tickets and time slots can be booked directly through the Barbican website.
