Gecko Theatre
2001 - Present | Visual Metaphor & Total Theatre
Visual Metaphor
Led by Artistic Director Amit Lahav, Gecko is an award-winning company known for creating "Total Theatre." Their work is incredibly visual, often exploring complex themes like mental health, migration, and memory through breath, sweat, and metaphor rather than words. They often use multiple languages (or gibberish) to prove emotion is universal.
Interactive: Visual Metaphor Engine
Gecko avoids literal storytelling. If a character is struggling, they don't say "I am sad." Click an emotion below to see how Gecko might stage it using physical and visual metaphor.
Essential Terminology
The starting point for all Gecko movement. The ensemble breathes together to move together.
Using a physical image to represent an abstract emotion.
Using many languages to force the audience to focus on body language rather than dialogue.
The idea that the stage represents the inside of a character's mind, not a real location.
Try a Gecko-style visual metaphor
Enter an emotion or line of dialogue. Get a physical visual-metaphor prompt to test with the ensemble.