Into the Sublime: the Eidophusikon Reimagined is Dr Gillian McIver’s reconstruction and reimagining of the iconic Eidophusikon, a milestone in theatre history. It was created by the 18th-century French painter Philip James de Loutherbourg RA, who served as a stage designer for David Garrick at Drury Lane, creating sublime stage effects that astounded audiences. The original Eidophusikon, widely regarded as a crucial forerunner to cinema, was a small-scale stage set that combined dramatic paintings, lights, gauze, coloured glass, and smoke to create scenic effects.

McIver’s Eidophusikon will follow de Loutherbourg’s plan of a five-scene performance while incorporating current contemporary art (by a number of London and international artists) to explore de Swedenborg’s ideas about art and science, material work and the afterlife, and his vision of the Divine. De Loutherbourg knew Emanuel Swedenborg and likely painted his portrait which is on display at Swedenborg House.

The piece will be shown in Swedenborg House’s Wynter Room—a beautiful period library—as part of a contextualised exhibit. The Wynter Room will be open to the public; the Eidophusikon itself will be activated with timed and ticketed performances.

OPENING TIMES:
Exhibition open Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm

Timed ticketed performances:
Mon 21, Wed 23, Fri 25, Mon 28 & Wed 30 Oct at 7pm

Composite image featuring ‘A view of Philip James de Loutherbourg’s Eidophusikon’ (1782) by Edward Francis Burney and ‘Dear Clouds’ (2023) by Marwan Elgamal.