
The Wild Duck
4.3 (23) · Modern
Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke stages a new version of The Wild Duck, Ibsen’s masterpiece about the nature of truth
Overview
verb. to duck
1. a quick lowering of the head (to avoid a blow or so as not to be seen)
2. depart quickly
3. avoid
noun. wild duck (more commonly known as mallard duck or anas platyrhynchos) – an undomesticated duck.
note. Due to its beautiful feathers, the mallard duck is one of the most popular ducks for hunters. When injured or threatened, ducks have been alleged to commit suicide, by diving to the bottom of the water, never returning to the surface.
Critic reviews
It’s so well conceived that it can feel over controlled, a theatrical thesis that pre-empts its conclusions, but its commitment to truth, and to theatre, never caves
Robert Icke lays bare the emotional heart of Ibsen's brutal classic
Robert Icke breathes life into Ibsen's play of secrets and lies
This play has the most tragic conclusion a play could have, and by that point, Icke has managed to open you up, make you think about the world around you, and pushed you to the limits of nerve and emotion
The genius of Icke’s The Wild Duck is that it delivers all the meta-theatrical cleverness without becoming self-obsessed bollocks
It's brutal, beautiful, and borderline brilliant
Meta, merciless and altogether brilliant
Robert Icke brings irresistible emotional clout
Amid antisocial media and fake news, this apparently domestic drama resonates hugely. What are the lies we need to help us live?