Welcome to the pages of

Ingrid Irrlicht

 
 
   
 
"Irrlicht "(ger.) = "will-o-the-wisp"
 
Will-o-the-wisp n. 1 ignis fatuus. 2 any deceptive or elusive light or fire. 3 optical illusion. 4 baffling object that avoids grasp or fixation. (Funk & Wagnall's Standard Dictionary, 1967)
  
 
 
 
Ingrid Irrlicht was born in the Backa, formerly a Hungarian territory, now belonging to Yugoslavia.
Since her German-Hungarian parents emigrated she lived in and around Munich, but has been at home all over the world, really. After graduating from school Ingrid studied German and English literature at the university of Munich. During a one year's stay in London for further studies she made her first decisive contacts with the world of theatre. Soon her determination to embark on a theatrical career followed.
 
In 1977 she began intensive training in classical mime with Desmond Jones in London and Etienne Decroux in Paris. First experience with street theatre in Munich and collaboration and exchange with various international clowns. At the same time Ingrid Irrlicht learnt African and Asian dance forms. From 1981 on she took up Tai-Chi and became enthralled by the play of body imagery found in the Japanese Butoh dance (teachers: Sumako Koseki and Eiko & Koma, then in Paris) which then became en vogue in the late 80's among the European dance szene. Ingrid decided to blend the various forms of expression she had so far moved in. A very personal adaptation of the various forms emerged: "fantasia corporal".

 
  
Since 1981 Ingrid regularly went on extended journeys and tours in various countries of South America combined with cultural exchanges and collaboration with Latin American artists and groups.
 
To her repertoire Ingrid Irrlicht has added experiments in political theatrical forms and mime shows especially designed for children. She also gives workshops in both "fantasia corporal"/"Butoh" and in miming. Some of her pupils have already earned a reputation as performers well established in the "scene".
 
In the early 1990's Ingrid began developing her own street acts in which she irritates, confuses and thrills varying audiences at all kinds of events with her "Walking Women", all-female creatures dressed up in about a dozen different of the fantastic and zaniest plastic creations of British costume designer Jenny Green-Becker.
 
Besides Hungarian and German, Ingrid Irrlicht speaks English and Spanish fluently, and good French.
 
Current repertoire
 
In her repertoire Ingrid has three different shows for children - that can well be adapted for the needs of special-interest-groups (see article from Costa Rica), as well as two variations of "Gaukeleier - Comedy Show" for adults, her "Walking Women" -acts (see the pictures!) for nearly all kinds of events and the "Terrarium Dances"
 
"Gaukeleier":
 
"One woman show", Ingrid's solo mime play, the word defies translation, but it hints at both mediaeval "jesting" and modern illusionist theatre. A non-classical mime show that entertains and unveils hidden acting talent in the audience by seducing spectators to participate. A piece that "works" under all circumstances because of its flexibility, regardless of nationality, age, educational level, religion or class of the spectators.
 

Ingrid is "pure entertainment", says famous art collector F. Murray Forbes, director of the "Navigator Foundation" of Boston, when he saw her show "Gaukeleier" in Munich 1990.
 
Mr. Forbes also wrote " ... she furnishes successive volunteers with props and self-confidence and together they extemporise skits that elicit acting flare and audience delight. .. Irrlicht commands a highly sharp technique that instantly telegraphs human and humanity. Her skilled miming blends with and encourages novice performers who never are made fools of and learn as they go..."
 
 
 
Owing to the fact that Ingrid Irrlicht has performed very little in English speaking countries we can't display much about her. But reviews and descriptions of her shows and performances will soon be translated and published here.
 
In the meantime, German or Spanish material can be delivered in abundance, if desired.
 
 
  
 
For details, technical requirements etc. please don't hesitate to contact    e-mail
 
or send a fax to  (+49) 89 - 3185 8962