1989. Manchester. The year that everything changed from black and white into technicolour. A frenzy of drugs, beats and bucket hats. Illegal raves. Acid parties. Just jumping up and down in a field and throwing two fingers to Thatcher…
Do you remember it? Because we don’t. We weren’t even born.
But Ian was. And Ian does remember.
We’ve got fuck all now (Ian says).
So, we’re going back to 1989.
We’re going to neck a brown biscuit.
We’re going to get off our peanut.
We’re going to bounce around like idiots.
And Ian’s going to show us how.
We’re mad fer it.
And you will be too.
Let’s party.
WE ARE IAN was about Dora's step-dad Ian, who was in his early 20s (our age when we made the show) in the late 80s and early 90s Acid House scene in Manchester.
The show is made from recordings of conversations we’ve had with Ian and he is represented on stage as a pulsating lightbulb, Ian's godlike voice speaks to us, and guides is through the ups and downs of what it was like back in the day and is scored by Ian's favourite tracks from the era. Using a messy, multimedia mish-mash of clowning, dance and lip-synching - we try and recreate the party and (the comedown). The show's about youth culture and politics. it's about our generation and the last. it's about class and opportunity. it's about dancing through the shit. but mainly, it's about Ian.
WE ARE IAN AT INCOMING FESTIVAL, NEW DIORAMA - JUNE 2017
"This is a requiem for a dream, for a time when youth culture could frighten the government by the way it danced"
★★★★ The List
"Be Ian, be you, but really just be in this audience"
★★★★★ A Younger Theatre
"This is a fiercely imaginative, defiant production, proving how political and bold an act dancing can be."
★★★★★ Three Weeks
"A heady, deafening and delirious thrill-ride of a show which grabs you by the throat and never lets go."
★★★★★ 730 Review
"A rousing rallying cry for resistance and a laugh-out-loud feel-good dance comedy, We Are Ian is unmissable."
★★★★★ Broadway Baby
"A non-stop, creatively crafted, uplifting piece of theatre that has resounding relevance."
★★★★ Reviews Hub
"The unbelievable amount of energy injected into the piece is infectious and for an hour we are definitely Ian"
"This is theatre as I have never experienced before"
★★★★ Fringe Guru
"Theatre is often obsessed with being contemporary: WE ARE IAN marries two generations’ experiences together in a stunning form that’s as relevant as anything you’ll see on stage."
reviews!
- WINNER BRIGHTON FRINGE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE 2016
- NOMINATED TOTAL THEATRE AWARD EMERGING COMPANY 2016
- 730 REVIEW AWARD FOR INNOVATION AND FORM 2017
- NOMINATED AWARD FOR THEATRE, FRINGE WORLD PERTH 2018
- WINNER ADELAIDE FRINGE WEEKLY AWARD FOR BEST THEATRE 2018
awards
2016
CAMDEN PEOPLE'S THEATRE
LATITUDE FESTIVAL
PLEASANCE 10DOME, EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE
BIKE SHED THEATRE, EXETER
18-22 OCTOBER
NEW DIORAMA, LONDON
11-12 AND 25-26 NOVEMBER
2017
VAULT FESTIVAL, LONDON
1-5 FEBRUARY
THEATRE FEST WEST, SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE
17 FEBRUARY
ALPHABETTI, NEWCASTLE
22-24 FEBRUARY
PRESENTED BY TOBACCO FACTORY THEATRES AT THE WARDROBE THEATRE, BRISTOL
2-4 MARCH
NEW WOLSEY THEATRE, IPSWICH
23 MARCH
BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, KENDAL
29 APRIL
SOUND CITY FESTIVAL, LIVERPOOL
27-28 MAY
KOMEDIA, BRIGHTON FRINGE FESTIVAL
31 MAY - 1 JUNE
INCOMING FESTIVAL, LONDON
3 JUNE
OFFBEAT, OXFORD
30 JUNE
THE BOAT SHED, EXETER
10-12 JULY
NATIONAL THEATRE RIVER STAGE, LONDON
5 JULY
PLEASANCE KING DOME, EDINBURGH FRINGE
7-28 AUGUST
THE HOUSE, PLYMOUTH
4 OCTOBER
HOME, MANCHESTER
12-14 OCTOBER
THEATRE DELI, SHEFFIELD
20-21 OCTOBER
2018
FRINGE WORLD, PERTH
27 JANUARY - 11 FEBRUARY
ADELAIDE FRINGE
16TH FEBRUARY - 18 MARCH
CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION
10 MAY
THEATRE ROYAL PORTSMOUTH
17 MAY
PRAGUE FRINGE, DIVADLO KAMPA
29 MAY - 2 JUNE
MILL ARTS CENTRE, BANBURY
22 JUNE
DERBY THEATRE
21 JULY
THE OTHER ROOM, CARDIFF
3-6 OCTOBER
SLUNG LOW HUB, LEEDS
7 OCTOBER
2019
LETS BE TOGETHER ARTS FESTIVAL, HONG KONG
7TH-16TH SEPTEMBER
tour
dates!
