Nice Fish
Nice Fish
Direct from a sold out season in New York, Academy and Bafta Award-winner Mark Rylance returns to the West End to perform in Nice Fish, a hit new comic play written by Mark Rylance and Louis Jenkins and directed by Claire van Kampen.
On a frozen Minnesota lake, the ice is beginning to creak and groan. It’s the end of the fishing season and on the frostbitten, unforgiving landscape, two old friends are out on the ice and they are angling for something big, something down there that is pure need, something that, had it the wherewithal, would swallow them whole.
Mark Rylance, in a unique collaboration with critically-acclaimed Minnesotan contemporary prose poet Louis Jenkins, draws on his teenage years in the frozen winters and culture of the American Midwest. Nice Fish is an ice fishing expedition where the ordinary and extraordinary collide. The full New York cast will transfer to London for this limited season. Ron (Mark Rylance) and Erik (Jim Lichtscheidl) play the odd couple, whose ordinary lives are comically exposed in this sublimely playful, profound and very funny play. Kayli Carter, Bob Davis and Raye Birk join them on their journey across the pond to perform in Nice Fish at the Harold Pinter theatre this winter.
‘Deliriously funny. Claire van Kampen’s cleverly staged production is a knockout’
Variety
‘Wonderful performances. Expertly directed. Bewitching’
New York Times
‘A chance to see a great actor like Mark Rylance cutting loose. A whimsical, ultimately resonant portrait of lost souls waiting to hook or be hooked.’
Time Out, NY
- Duration
TBC
Additional Details & FAQ
- Cancellation Policy
No Refunds or exchanges available.
- How Does It Work
You will receive a confirmation email with a voucher attached. You must print the voucher and bring it with you on the day of the performance to collect your tickets. We recommend you arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before the show to collect your tickets and settle into your seats.
- Where Do I Go
Harold Pinter Theatre,Panton Street,London,SW1Y 4DN
By Tube- Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Charing Cross
By Bus-14, 19, 24, 29, 38
Critic Reviews
The Stage
Dec 2, 2016
This Rylance passion project offers a weird but compelling opportunity to see the great actor onstage
Time Out
Dec 1, 2016
The brilliant Mark Rylance in an oddball comedy, co-written with poet Louis Jenkins
Reviews
RE
Feb 4, 2017
wacky and delightful. beautiful set so cleverly used and stagecraft at its best. The acting was truly superb from all cast members who used the set and innumerable props so cleverly. Great puppetry too. I would recommend anyone to try and see it.
The Stones
Feb 3, 2017
Brilliantly answers the questions to the meaning of life, the universe and all of that. We have rarely been so uplifted at the end of a play. The puppetry added imaginative charm.
Carol Ajegbo
Feb 2, 2017
Mark Rylance is brilliant - as usual! And the script is funny and philosophical. A real treat. I bought the script afterwards.
Bridget
Feb 2, 2017
Despite strong performances, Nice Fish left me and my friends underwhelmed. The ideas felt inconsequential and lacking in originality or intellectual rigour. The spells of comedy didn't compensate for that. Episodic style emphasised a lack of dramatic structure, rather than offering a compelling alternative. The puppetry added a whimsical tone that gave nothing to the drama. Disappointing.
Big Apple Yankee
Feb 1, 2017
You need to look beyond the 'laughs', some of which are the more nervous, I can relate to that kind of chuckle - just brilliantly played by all!
Lorraine Byrne
Jan 28, 2017
Fab and great ending
Guillermo
Jan 28, 2017
It was really worth just to see Mark Rylance acting. Superb performance.
Linda
Jan 26, 2017
Wonderful play - fantastic writing and cast - laughed lots with poignant moments too.
Frances Beaumont
Jan 26, 2017
Brilliant - funny and thought provoking. Excellent acting by all cast members , but especially Mark Rylance. Adding to our laughter was the slippery fish shaped cushion I had brought along on a rod , which fell at some time in the performance from our Box into the lap of a man in the front row !
Godot
Jan 25, 2017
Enjoyable, funny and thought provoking. Loved the play, performances and the overall experience of this show. Cleverly staged, full of surprises and genuine blackouts! Which rather than stilted it, gave it fluidity.
D. Usher
Jan 25, 2017
There is no doubt that Mark Rylance is a brilliant actor, and I will try and see as many of his performances as I can. However, I thought that this play was a little weird. I perhaps should have paid more attention to some of the other reviews that I had read.
Terri
Jan 22, 2017
Funny yet thoughtful throughout. Rylance never fails to impress!
Alison D
Jan 19, 2017
A great experience at the theatre. Never boring, interestingly staged, fine acting as expected. Some comments about life resonated with the experience of the older matinee audience. Lots of humour too. I have recommended this to older and younger friends.
kath
Jan 19, 2017
challenged you to think outside the box esp if not familiar with the prose work of the author. Much funnier than anticipated, comic timing of both leads exceptional.
PFJ
Jan 16, 2017
A disappointment for fans of Mark Rylance. Nothing outstandingly bad with it, it just isn't very good. The dialogue rambles, it a bit mundane. Sorry but not worth the effort and cost to see this one
LM
Jan 15, 2017
An unexpected comedy set on a frozen lake in Minnesota/Michigan full of amusing snippets. Mark Rylance was wonderful... particularly at the end...
S & C
Jan 13, 2017
We had a great time, Mark Rylance is so talented and we both encouraged our friends to book straight after! There were younger and older people alike at the theatre and everyone was laughing and dreaming... Poetry works very well in a play!
Siobhan B
Dec 30, 2016
I went to see Nice Fish because I am a huge fan of Mark Rylance. Although he was just as good as ever, supported by three other talented actors, I was disappointed with the play itself. It was mildly amusing in places, but it didn't seem to go anywhere, and the response from the audience at the end was half-hearted to say the least, not the thunderous ovation we usually witness at a Mark Rylance performance. I'm
Rob W
Dec 28, 2016
Brilliantly funny - delightful evening. Mark Rylance at his best and most innovative.
Christina
Dec 22, 2016
Read mixed reviews. Glad we went to see the play. Clever, funny, at times insightful.
Tom Mautner
Dec 21, 2016
Brilliant performances from all the actors. The play was completely weird, surreal and to me, utterly incomprehensible.
Robert Shaw
Dec 13, 2016
Beautifully written, humorous and humane, loved every minute from the slap-stick to the three part harmonies.
Liz Hewson winning
Dec 8, 2016
Great cast. Mark rylance is beyond brilliant. Wonderful music and production from Claire. Mesmerised and mystified and indelibly impressed!
Culture Vulture
Dec 8, 2016
Quirky, brilliant, hilarious and occasionally profound! What a treat! We were riveted by every word and gesture.
tomo
Dec 3, 2016
Charming and very funny. Excellent cast its not all about Rylance.
christine jones
Dec 1, 2016
well acted, but did not enjoy
Sliz Gillard
Nov 29, 2016
Throughly enjoyed 'Nice Fish'. Just wish we'd known about the 'dress up as a fish or fisherman with a fishing rod and receive complimentary tickets' thing. Mark Rylance was fantastic, as always. He's co-stars were great too.
Livia Watson
Nov 27, 2016
Wow, what a play!To start with,my husband and I were upgraded to a Box where we were asked to dress up into props. Thanks!! I cannot say we understood the play( so decided to buy a program)but the quality of the soliloquy s, the amazing stage settings and puppetry, the acting and astonishing ending were magical. So intelligent, well crafted and imaginative, Mark Rylance is a genius as were the other actors and his wife's music beautiful.
Justine
Nov 27, 2016
Funny & poignant. Mark Rylance is genius and hilarious!
clive
Nov 19, 2016
Some fine moments from lead actors as ever, but disappointing and unconvincing overall, comedy sparse and insights rare. Lighting good but puppets not. Little in script that we had not learnt before from Bill Bryson and Fargo.