Created by Amit Lahav
Producer: Rosalind Wynn

Devising Performers:
Chris Evans
Amit Lahav
Ryen Perkins‐Gangnes
François Testory

Design: Rhys Jarman and Amit Lahav
Lighting Design: Chris Swain and Amit Lahav
Original Music: Dave Price
Associate Director: Rich Rusk
Sound Design: Nathan Johnson
Costume Supervisor: Amy Cook

Musicians: Dave Price and James Alsopp
Solo Vocalist: François Testory
Ritual Dance Vocals: Chris Evans and Amit Lahav

During creation
Devising Performers: Anna Finkel and Lise Manivit

Photographs by Richard Haughton and Hide the Shark

For each of our current touring shows we have created a Sound World Information Sheet to enable D/deaf, deafened and hard of hearing audience members to understand the soundscape of each show and how it feeds into the other elements of our performances. Please read the information in advance of attending the show. Where possible we offer a BSL interpreted post show discussion in collaboration with our venue partners.

Click here to download the Sound World of Institute (PDF)

★★★★ The Financial Times
“The choreography is wonderfully eclectic and expressive, constantly shifting styles to meet the moment, and performed by all four men with exquisite precision and feeling.” Sarah Hemming

★★★★ The Independent
“The attention to detail extends to all aspects of this beautifully realised production, from the theatrically inventive use of sets springing out of the cabinets to the now-ominous, now-jaunty soundtrack. All in all, it makes for a unique vision.” Holly Williams

★★★★★ Sydney Morning Herald
“It is many years since I have seen anything like this quality of movement, imagination and theatricality.” Jill Sykes

★★★★★ Broadway Baby
“The individual attention to detail and accomplished ensemble playing make this piece required viewing.” Joshua Clarke

★★★★★ Exeunt
“Institute is a piece of physical and visual theatre capable of swallowing you whole. It asks you to trust it, to give yourself to it. And it’s all the more potent, all the more hypnotic, if you’re able to do it, if you let it take you.” Andrew Latimer

★★★★★ British Theatre Guide
“It brought a spontaneous standing ovation that was fully and richly deserved. A wonderful piece of thought provoking physical theatre that’s an absolute joy. Just go!” Robin Strapp

★★★★★ All Edinburgh Theatre
“It is compelling, captivating and ultimately forces the brain out of its comfort zone to try and understand the multiple layers of complexity that is a human life and a human mind. In an absorbing and magnetising production that confuses as much as it challenges, Institute is not a show that you’re ever likely to forget.” Susan Lowes

In Autumn 2016 Gecko developed a series of events and resources to allow audiences to further explore issues of mental well-being raised in Institute. We teamed up with Suffolk Mind as the lead partner on the project, and also worked with local mental health networks in each city that Institute toured to; Manchester, Southampton and Liverpool. The project was supported by a Wellcome Trust Award.

There were four stands to the project:

Something to talk about: at each venue we held a post-show discussion with a twist. Artistic Director Amit Lahav and one of our performers were joined by local experts working in the field of mental health to discuss the show’s themes, and answer questions from the audience.

Something to read: all audience members received a programme giving more information on the show and this project, as well as information on mental well-being and pathways to support locally.

Someone to talk to: after every performance there was someone from a local mental health support network ready to talk to audience members in the foyer, answering any questions they may have had.

Something to do: Gecko and Suffolk Mind created a unique workshop experience, combining their understanding and experiences of human emotional needs. Introducing the idea that we all have the same core emotional needs which must to be met to sustain healthy minds. At each venue we led a free 3.5 hour theatre based workshop creating a playful and safe environment in which we introduced, explored and discussed these ideas in relation to Institute, the characters and ourselves.

“The portrayal of emotion through movement was beautiful and thought-provoking. It highlighted how men verbally hide their emotion. It showed how vulnerable men can be, no matter how much they distract from that.”
- Participant in Suffolk Mind workshop

Following Gecko’s Wellcome project, Ezra Hewing, Head of Mental Health Education at Suffolk Mind, has written an article entitled ‘Physical Theatre Meets Mental Health’.

In recent years, we have made further developments to make this a standalone workshop, enabling more people to take part. Using our combined understanding of human emotional needs, the theatre-based workshop creates a playful and safe environment in which participants explore the idea that we all have the same core emotional needs, which must be met to sustain healthy minds. We have since run this at Latitude Festival 2017 and at Norwich Theatre Royal in 2018, as part of their Mental Health Awareness Month.

2020
Nottingham Playhouse, UK

2019
Hong Kong City Hall Theatre, Hong Kong
Bristol Old Vic, Bristol, UK
Materia Prima Festival, Krakow, Poland

2018
Jiangsu Center for the Performing Arts, Nanjing, China
Jing-an Modern Drama Valley Festival, Shanghai, China

2017
Sydney Festival, Australia

2016
Liverpool Playhouse, UK
Nuffield Southampton, UK
HOME, Manchester, UK
Batumi Music and Arts Centre, Georgia
Sibiu Festival, Romania
Riverfront Theatre Newport, Wales (as part of British Dance Edition)
The Place, London, UK
Lermontov Russian Drama Theatre, Almaty, Kazakhstan

2015
The Grand, Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh, UK
Hall for Cornwall, Truro, UK
Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House, London, UK (as part of London International Mime Festival)
Lighthouse Poole, UK

2014
Bristol Old Vic, UK
Edinburgh Festival Theatre, UK
Northern Stage, Newcastle, UK
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, UK
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, UK
Derby Theatre, UK

2013
Pulse Festival, High Street Exhibition Gallery, Ipswich, UK (work in progress)