Theatre director, playwright and lighting designer from Iceland
Magnús Thorlacius has a BA degree in Theatre and Performance Making from LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík and is currently based in London, studying MA Directing at LAMDA.
His first full length play, Skeljar, was nominated as Play of the Year at The Icelandic Theatre Awards, Gríman.
”In my work I aim to facilitate a dialogue for the society we live in with itself, creating a battleground for the moral, societal and existential contradictions that are constantly at odds in our lives; the contradictions that shape our worldview. This can take shape across different forms, all from innovative, conceptual multimedia pieces to provocative character dramas, and everything there in between. The only requirement I set myself is that the unique tools and methods that only the theatre as a medium has to offer are used to its fullest, and the audience and their presence in the space is at the heart of the work I make.”
Contact info:
magnusth1998@gmail.com
Education:
2019-22 BA in Theatre and Performance Making, LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík
2025-26 MA in Theatre Directing, LAMDA, London
Nominations and awards:
2025 Skeljar - Nominated as Play of the Year at the Icelandic Theatre Awards, Gríman
Theatre director:
2025 Jónsmessunæturdraumur by William Shakespeare, co-directed with María Ellingsen - Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
2025 Skeljar by Magnús Thorlacius - Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík
2024 Þöglar byltingar by Magnús Thorlacius - Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
2022 Flokkstjórinn by Hólmfríður Hafliðadóttir & Magnús Thorlacius - Vatnsendi, Kópavogur
2022 Lónið by Magnús Thorlacius - LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík (2022) and Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík (2023)
2022 Fundurinn by Starkaður Pétursson - LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík
2021 Þöglar byltingar by Magnús Thorlacius - Reykjavik City Theatre
2021 Lungun by Duncan Macmillan in a version by Magnús Thorlacius - LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík
2021 El Grillo by Magnús Thorlacius - Reykjavík Fringe Festival
2021 Dýrabær by George Orwell in a version by Magnús Thorlacius - LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík
2021 Viva Verzló by Magnús Thorlacius - LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík
2019 Gíraffinn by Magnús Thorlacius - Reykjavik City Theatre and Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
Plays:
2025 Skeljar play - first staged at Ásmundarsalur, Reykjavík
2022 Flokkstjórinn one-act play co-written with Hólmfríður Hafliðadóttir - first staged in Vatnsendi, Kópavogur
2021 Þöglar byltingar one-act play - First staged for Ungleikur at Reykjavik City Theatre, revived at Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík (2024)
2021 El Grillo short radio play - premiered at Reykjavík Fringe Festival
2021 Viva Verzló one-act play - first staged at LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík
2021 Átta sneiðar one-act play - stage read at LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík
2020 Þriggja rétta one-act play - first staged for RVK Fringe at Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
2019 Gíraffinn one-act play - first staged for Ungleikur at Reykjavik City Theatre
Devisor/performer:
2023 Í fréttum er þetta helst by Bein Útsending Performance Group - Umbúðalaust, Reykjavík City Theatre
2021 Jesú er til, hann spilar á banjó by Hákon Örn Helgason - LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík (2021) and Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík (2022)
2020 Endalausir þræðir by Strengur Performance Group - community centres for senior citizens, Reykjavík
2020 …annars bara frekar mygluð og hlökkum til að komast í sund directed by Hákon Örn Helgason - LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík
2019 Næst á dagskrá directed by Hákon Örn Helgason - LungA Art Festival, Seyðisfjörður
Light designer:
2025 Brím directed by Adolf Smári Unnarsson - Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
2024 Undir directed by Adolf Smári Unnarsson - Afturámóti, Reykjavík (2024) and Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík (2024)
2024 Kannibalen directed by Adolf Smári Unnarsson - Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
2023 Aðventa directed by Egill Ingibergsson - Reykjavík City Theatre
2023 Pabbastrákar directed by Hákon Örn helgason and Helgi Grímur Hermannson - Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
2022 Stelpur og strákar directed by Annalísa Hermannsdóttir - Gaflaraleikhúsið, Hafnarfjörður (2022) and Tjarnarbíó (2023)
2021 Jesú er til, hann spilar á banjó directed by Hákon Örn Helgason - LHÍ (IUA), Reykjavík (2021) and Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík (2022)
2019 Rocky! directed by Vignir Rafn Valþórsson - Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
2019 Independent Party People directed by Brogan Davison - Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
2019 Dansandi ljóð directed by Edda Þórarinsdóttir - The National Theatre, Reykjavík
Assistant director:
2026 Anatomy of a Suicide by Alice Birch and directed by Caroline Leslie - LAMDA Linbury Studio, London
2022 Hvíta tígrisdýrið by Bryndís Ósk Þ. Ingvarsdóttir and directed by Guðmundur Felixson - Reykjavík City Theatre
2022 Eyja by Sóley Ómarsdóttir and Ástbjörg Rut Jónsdóttir, directed by Andrea Vilhjálmsdóttir - The National Theatre, Reykjavík
2020 Ekkert er sorglegra en manneskjan by Friðrik Margrétar- Guðmundsson and directed by Adolf Smári Unnarsson -
Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
2019 Kæru vinir by and directed by Adolf Smári Unnarsson - Tjarnarbíó, Reykjavík
Literary works:
2025 Skeljar, play - self-published, available in select bookstores in Iceland
2021 Kópavogur grætur, four-part series of opinion essays - Lestin, Rás 1 (The National Radio of Iceland)
2021 Mygla, collection of short stories - self published, online
2019 Heimilislausar íbúðir, book of poetry - published by Verðlausar Hugmyndir
Film:
2024 Season Superstar - Writer/participator in a short film created in 24 hours for Dægurflugur (Døgnfluger)
2023 Lundur - Short film directed Magnús Thorlacius
Residencies:
2025 Playwriting residency at The National Theatre, Reykjavík
2022-25 Member of Hafnar.haus, a studio workspace above the Reykjavík Art Museum in downtown Reykjavík
2022-25 Member of Tóma rýmið, an artist run performance space in Skerjafjörður, Reykjavík
2019 Student at LungaA school, a residential art school in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
Amateur productions:
2025 Á svið - Director of Borgarholtsskóli’s school production - Iðnó, Reykjavík
2025 Klú - Director of Tækniskólinn’s school production - Tækniskólinn, Reykjavík
2024 Reykjavík Street Theatre - Director of various street theatre performances facilitated by Hitt húsið - Reykjavík City Centre
