Artistic Philosophy

Find out more about The Icarus Theatre Collective.

Why A Collective?	Artistic Policy	Mission Statement
Artistic Philosophy	Company History	Short Company History

Theatre of Destruction

We explore theatre as a destructive force: An actor on stage does not create the world we, as the audience, can see. At the start there is a blank stage. The stage could be any thing, any world, any time, any place. The designer destroys almost all possibilities, leaving us with his setting, his time, his place. An actor walks on stage. He could be anyone. She could do anything. Then they take action. No longer can we imagine who these people are in this world because we now know. We are left wondering what happens next? Who will live? Who will love? Who will die? As the story progresses, we learn the answers to many of these questions, destroying the possibility of any other outcome existing.

Yet this very destruction is more liberating, more freeing, more exploratory than any creative act could ever be. The audience is forced to imagine because the creation on stage is subject to the point of view of every person watching. Two friends or two lovers, sitting inches from each other, can leave the auditorium and argue about who was the hero, who the enemy, what message was told. All has been destroyed, so anything can exist and truly, finally, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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The Lesson by Eugène Ionesco

Stiri.Acasa.ro

edfringe.com

Curierul National

Realitatea.net

The Trials of Galileo by Nic Young

Fringe Review
Wandsworth
Edfringe.com
Three Weeks
Remotegoat
Public Reviews
Fringe Guru
Broadway Baby
ViewfromtheGods
British Theatre Guide

The Lesson Eugène Ionesco

or better
in 15 of 17 reviews

Out of all productions with a star rating in the last 3 years:

or better
in 36 of 45 reviews

The Lesson Eugène Ionesco

"Max Lewendel's production succeeds by the strength of its acting and the steadily increasing tension."

Jeremy Kingston, The Times

The Lesson Eugène Ionesco

"Directed so specifically that the beast of chaos that charges through Ionesco's work like his own rhinoceros is safely routed through the play."

Rebecca Banks, Ham & High

The Lesson Eugène Ionesco

"A daring production by an energetic new company, the London-based Icarus Theatre Collective, it pulls no punches in its visceral pursuit of pure absurdism."

Daniel Lombard,
South Wales Argus

The Lesson Eugène Ionesco

Premiul special al juriului
Special Jury Prize:
Cash prize from Romania

The Lesson Eugène Ionesco

Premiul pentru cea mai buna actrita ín rol principal
Best Actress in a Leading
Role: Amy Loughton

Coyote Ugly by Lynn Siefert

"Scarlet, a wild 12-year-old, like a coyote bitch on heat".

John Thaxter, What's On

Macbeth
by William Shakespeare

Remotegoat

Carrick Biz

Stage, Screen, & the Mystique

Three Weeks

Journey's End
by R.C. Sherriff

The Times

The Scotsman

Manchester Eve News

Macbeth
by William Shakespeare

With sword, axe, spear and bare fist fighting it is an impressively energetic and dynamic production.

Victoria Claringbold, Remotegoat

The Trials of Galileo
by Nic Young

Icarus Theatre fly into London on waxen wings, which, after this compelling production, show no sign of melting any time soon.

Edwin Reis, Remotegoat

Spring Awakening
by Frank Wedekind

Nigh-on Faultless. The cast are, one and all, magnificent.

Roderic Dunnett, Behind the Arras

Macbeth
by William Shakespeare

"Max Lewendel's production is fast-paced and pulls the audience straight in... Outstanding".

Von Magdalena Marek, Newsline

Macbeth
by William Shakespeare

"Particularly haunting is the piece because of the use of music and sounds, designed by Theo Holloway. The effect is outstanding".

Von Magdalena Marek, Newsline

Macbeth
by William Shakespeare

"Max Lewendel's production is fast-paced and pulls the audience straight in... Outstanding".

Von Magdalena Marek, Newsline

Macbeth
by William Shakespeare

"The play explodes into action with a high-powered fight sequence using real swords, axes and spears that superbly captured the intensity of battle".

Robin Strapp, British Theatre Guide

Journey's End
by R.C. Sherriff

"A powerfully emotive production."

Julie Watterston, The Stage

Albert's Boy
by James Graham

"Theatre at its best."

Aleks Sierz, The Stage

Coyote Ugly by Lynn Siefert

"The five-member cast fill the dim confines of the theatre like a desert storm".

Le Roux Schoeman,
Church of England Newsletter

Coyote Ugly by Lynn Siefert

"This sexy, steamy drama really hits home, especially after delivering the scorpion sting in its tail".

Philip Fisher,
British Theatre Guide

The Lesson Eugène Ionesco

"Comedy, tragedy, fear, mystery, sex, violence, disturbance: The Lesson has them all".

Eleanor Weber,
Raddest Right Now

The Lesson Eugène Ionesco

"It is impossible not to enjoy Icarus Theatre Collective’s production of Ionesco’s one-act play".

The Stage

Coyote Ugly by Lynn Siefert

"The cast navigates the perilous emotional terrain with aplomb".

Visit London (Totally London)

Coyote Ugly by Lynn Siefert

"Sizzling bursts of desire and hate among the North American sands".

Timothy Ramsden,
Reviews Gate

Albert's Boy
by James Graham

"Extraordinary...
Victor Spinetti is outstanding."

Cheryl Freedman,
What's On in London

Albert's Boy
by James Graham

"A beautifully crafted piece."

Joanna Bacon,
Rogues & Vagabonds

The Lesson Eugène Ionesco

"The Icarus Theatre collective's production of Eugène Ionesco's absurdist masterpiece is brilliant. A fast-paced, sixty-five minute screaming journey from a bare classroom into utter chaos."

Kevin Hurst, Extra! Extra!

Many Roads to Paradise
by Stewart Permutt

"You would pay a lot of money in the West End for a class act like this, so why not pop along to the Finborough and find out what great nights are made of."

Gene David Kirk,
UK Theatre Web

The Time of Your Life
William Saroyan