13 May 2026 – Internationally acclaimed choreographer and dancer Akram Khan has joined Roundhouse CEO and Artistic Director Marcus Davey for the latest episode of the Roundhouse podcast Making Space, a series exploring arts, creativity, society and what it means to be human.
From performing in Peter Brook’s landmark production of the Mahabharata at just 13 years old to choreographing the iconic “Abide With Me” section of the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, Khan reflects on a career shaped by movement, myth and storytelling.
Speaking about the origins of his relationship with dance, Khan recalls first being inspired by watching his mother dance in the garden as a child, before seeing Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 on television. “I would say, really, in all honesty, it was Michael Jackson… I remember going, this is what I want to do.”
Returning home after working with Peter Brook as a teenager, Khan describes spending up to ten hours a day training alone in his father’s garage after skipping school. “For me, it wasn’t a choice. It was a calling, and nothing else made sense.”
At the centre of the conversation is Khan’s belief that storytelling is fundamental to human existence. “We are born storytellers. We use stories to make sense of the world. We use stories to understand trauma. We use stories to celebrate. Storytelling is at the heart of all creativity.”
Reflecting on performance and creativity, Khan describes the stage as a place where ordinary time disappears and something deeper takes over.
“You shift from man-made clock time to deep time, ocean time, spiritual time, sacred time. That’s what happens on stage.”
He explains that performance is where he feels most truthful. “The most honest I’ve ever been is when I’m on stage,” he says. “You have everything to lose.”
For Khan, creativity often comes from vulnerability rather than certainty. “The most valuable time when I feel I’m in a really good place to be creative is when I am vulnerable and when I’m drowning. You have to find the pleasure in drowning.”
The episode also revisits Until the Lions, Khan’s critically acclaimed production commissioned by the Roundhouse and the international network of round venues. Inspired by a lesser-known female story from the Mahabharata, the work explored power, transformation and voice through performance in the round.
Discussing his continued focus on female-led narratives across works such as Until the Lions, Giselle and Lady Macbeth, Khan credits his mother for shaping his perspective. “She didn’t tell me stories from Adam’s perspective, she told me from Eve’s. She wanted to plant a seed of empathy.”
Asked to describe the Roundhouse in just three words, Khan’s answer was immediate: “Sacred. Storytelling. Refuge.”
Looking to the future, Khan speaks powerfully about the role of artists in uncertain times. “We are at a time of darkness. Most people will see the darkness, but a few will see the stars. I hope artists can help the rest of us see that there are stars in the darkness.”
Making Space is a six-episode series featuring intimate conversations with leading artists connected to the Roundhouse. Previous guests include Daniel Kaluuya, Sir Antony Gormley and Cecilia Knapp; future episodes are to be announced.
The episode with Akram Khan is available to stream via Roundhouse and all major podcast platforms.