About Us

“If you look back through any new movement in theatre, you can always see the beginnings of it in the Mime Festival”

Phelim McDermot (Improbable) in an interview with Matt Trueman, New York Times

London International Mime Festival (LIMF) was founded in 1977 by producer, Joseph Seelig, at the instigation of mime-clown, Nola Rae. He was joined by Helen Lannaghan as co-director in 1986. It is the Capital’s longest established international theatre season.
Taking place each January, its programme spans the spectrum of contemporary visual performance including live art, physical and circus-theatre, mask, puppetry, movement and object theatre.

‘The aesthetic outlook of the London International Mime Festival, founded in 1977, remains evergreen, varied and vital. The works of physical/ visual theatre programmed by its astute co-directors enliven the typically bone-chilling post-holiday doldrums’
Donald Hutera, The Times

 ‘The consistently innovative London International Mime Festival knows no boundaries’
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard

London International Mime Festival is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

The 2018 London International Mime Festival gratefully acknowledges co-operation/financial support from:
Arts Council England
Finnish Institute in London
Institut français
The European Commission Representation in the UK
Wallonie-Bruxelles International & The Agency Wallonie-Bruxelles Theatre/Danse

“The most resolutely outward looking of the UK’s visual theatre festivals… LIMF has been running for over 30 years and a look back at the programme archive proves their eye for picking the greats before they’ve made it. In London, and more widely, the country, it’s unchallenged in size and reach”
Sideshow Circus Magazine