The Overcoat
Get the coat, get the girl, change the world!
In a futile government department reminiscent of Chaplin’s ‘Modern Times’, Akakki falls in love with the beautiful Natalia. His feelings for her are not returned; this drives him to be the best and win the ultimate office prize – the overcoat. But how far is Akakki willing to go? And at what cost?
Inspired by Gogol’s short story, The Overcoat creates an intoxicating world where a man’s thoughts and dreams spill out into everyday life…
“Creates a dazzlingly inventive world that combines visual flair and physical swagger.” Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
★★★★★ Edinburgh Spotlight
“Akakki's feelings infuse everything, from the lighting to composer Dave Price's Romany-flavoured musical accompaniment to the physicality of the ensemble, simultaneously.”
Matt Boothman, British Theatre Guide
Watch the full show
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Created by Amit Lahav
Collaborating with
Designer: Ti Green
Lighting: James Farncombe
Sound: Dan Steele
Assistant to the Director: Rich Rusk
Costume Supervisor: Sophie Bugeaud LabruneDevising Performers:
Natalie Ayton, Amit Lahav, Robert Luckay, Dave Price, Georgina Roberts, Vinicius Salles, Dai Tabuchi, Francois Testory, Sirena Tocco and Tom Wu.Support cast:
Anders Jensen and Inigo Ortega MartinezProduction Manager: Sam Paterson
Technical Manager: Lorenzo Appetecchia
Relighter: Chris Swain
Sound Operator: Dan Steele
Technical Assistant Stage Manager: Matt O’Leary
Rigging Consultant: Joe White -
John Peter, The Sunday Times
“Hauntingly and recklessly brilliant … thrilling and sinister surrealist nightmare.”Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
“Creates a dazzlingly inventive world that combines visual flair and physical swagger.”Nuala Calvi, The Stage
“Gecko excels in creating small moments that capture wordlessly the individual’s emotional struggle”Matt Boothman, British Theatre Guide
“Akakki's feelings infuse everything, from the lighting to composer Dave Price's Romany-flavoured musical accompaniment to the physicality of the ensemble, simultaneously.”★★★★★ Edinburgh Spotlight
“Shows like this challenge and delight, and it is to Gecko Theatre’s credit that The Overcoat does this for every moment of its 80-minute performance.” -
2011
The China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Shanghai, China2010
New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, UK
Northern Stage, Newcastle, UK
Nuffield Southampton, UK
Uijeongbu Music Theatre Festival – Uijeonbu Arts Centre, South Korea
Chuncheon International Mime Festival – Chuncheon Arts & Culture Centre, South Korea
Rebecca Crowne Theatre, Jerusalem, Israel
National Centre for Performing Arts, Beijing, China (presented by the Edinburgh Fringe Showcase in China)
Capital Theatre, Beijing (presented by the Edinburgh Fringe Showcase in China)
People’s Theatre, Xian (presented by the Edinburgh Fringe Showcase in China)
Grand Theatre, Wuhan (presented by the Edinburgh Fringe Showcase in China)
Children’s Palace Theatre, Shenzhen (presented by the Edinburgh Fringe Showcase in China)
National Theatre Brasilia, Brazil
Ibero-American Theatre Festival of Bogotà, Colombia2009
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, UK
Contact Theatre, Manchester, UK
Lyric Hammersmith, London, UK
Plymouth Theatre Royal, Plymouth, UK
Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland
International Festival of Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia
Teatro Popular, Sao Paolo, Brazil
Support
Funded by Arts Council England. A Gecko and Lyric Hammersmith production in association with Plymouth Theatre Royal.