Геко: Британдық физикалық театр компаниясы

British international touring physical theatre company

Gecko is a British based international touring physical theatre company, founded in 2001, led by Artistic Director Amit Lahav.

The style of the company was influenced primarily by the work of Lindsay Kemp and David Glass. With an expanding ensemble of international performers and makers, Gecko creates work through collaboration, experimentation and play, with a focus on movement and dance. The company tours nationally and internationally, developing partnerships around the world. Gecko is partnered with Magic Me arts charity to bring their theatre company into elderly care homes. The style is often referred to as 'Total Theatre', which Lahav describes as utilising any means possible to tell a story, including the creative deployment of puppets, props, physicality, language, music, lighting, multimedia and soundscapes to construct a complete theatrical world from these individual components. Through the ensemble's collaboration and the audience's engagement, each show continually evolves throughout their numerous stages of development. Gecko is supported by its patrons, Arlene Phillips and Dominic West.

Taylor's Dummies was voted best performance off West End by Time Out Live Awards. The production also won Time Out's Critics Choice of The Year 2002, The Guardian's Pick of The Fringe 2002, and Special Award; Mess Festival Sarajevo 2004. The production has toured the United Kingdom, with venues including The Tobacco Factory Bristol, and Battersea Arts Centre London, in addition to international venues. The 50 minute show follows the titular character after he meets a woman in a Cafe or bar, exploring his fears, memories, and desires. The production was met with positive reviews. The productions creative team included Technical Director Stuart Heyes, Composer David Price, Original Lighting Design by Ian Scott, and Original Design by Ruth Finn and the company.

Gecko’s newest show previewed at Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne, in 2017 before going on to tour both nationally and internationally. The production has toured to venues including Lighthouse in Poole, UK, MODAFE (International Modern Dance Festival) in Seoul, South Korea, and Stadsschouwburg, Utrecht, Netherlands. The 80 minute show explores themes surrounding the complexities of human nature, and human relationships. Creator Amit Lahav states that he wants each audience member to leave with their own interpretations, saying "If everyone came out of the theatre and had the exact same interpretation I would have failed. I would have nailed it down too heavily". The production gained positive reviews, receiving praise for the score by Dave Price and sound design by Jonathon Everett. The productions design by Rhys Jarman was displayed at the V&A's Staging Places exhibition in July 2019 to January 2020. In 2021 the National Theatre commissioned a production with Gecko to explore the themes of family, home, migration and racism. The show was then expected to première in 2022 and be performed on the South Bank in 2023.