The Time of Your Life

Finborough Theatre
26 November - 21 December 2008

The Time of Your Life

By William Saroyan

First Revival of Pulitzer Prize winning American/Armenian play since the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1983.

Sound Bites

“Book as soon as possible for this fascinating American play... The Finborough has, yet again, made a strong case for itself as one of the very best fringe theatres in London.”
“The energy, the humanity, the yearning for innocence all still speak eloquently to a modern audience”
“Icarus Theatre Collective brings twenty-six actors to the tiny Finborough – making for a crowded curtain-call – and proving once again that fringe theatre can be as ambitious as any subsidized warehouse.”

-Claire Ingrams, Rogues and Vagabonds

“Because the play is so very good, the characters so rich, and all the wonderful absurdities of broken people with broken dreams all thrown together in this warm and cosy bar, you may well want to stay longer, have a drink with them, ignore the ticking clocks and as William Saroyan puts it; “live – so that you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.”

-Hannah Kew, Whatsonstage

“This is the kind of consoling play we need right now, steeped in the sentimental belief that however far you fall there will always be a kindly soul who will give you a helping hand.”

-Jane Edwardes, Time Out

“This fine production of Saroyan’s intriguing play…An ambitious and intriguing production.”

-Mary Couzens, Extra Extra

“Do the actors and Max Lewendel’s production catch the generous, mournfully hopeful spirit of Saroyan’s scenes from this life? They most certainly do in this brave and striking enterprise.”

-Timothy Ramsden, Reviewsgate

“William Saroyan’s sprawling barroom play has a lot going for it; it’s warm and engaging, if practically plot-less, and has an endearing faith in human goodness.”

-Natasha Tripney, Music OMH

“Great entertainment!”

-Newsline

“Fine performances from the 26-strong cast.”
“Written in the same year as The Iceman Cometh, it emerges as a cheerier version of Eugene O'Neill, and a refreshing hymn to human goodness.”
“Saroyan's play has a genuine love of hobo eccentricity and convinces you that it really is a wonderful world...Saroyan creates moments of pure theatrical poetry.”

-Michael Billington, The Guardian

“There are unmistakable overtones of The Iceman Cometh as Saroyan’s sprawling, episodic structure introduces us to saloon owner Nick and his irregular regulars... Saroyan offers some wonderful character portraits.”

-Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard

Enter your details to receive free ticket offers and info on upcoming shows.

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