The Doctor

First, do no harm.

How do we defend the "truth" when no one agrees what it is and many have reason to undermine it?

Very freely adapting Professor Bernhardi by Arthur Schnitzler, Robert Icke's gripping moral thriller uses the lens of medical ethics to examine urgent questions of faith, belief, and scientific rationality.

After a critically acclaimed run at London's Almeida Theatre, The Doctor transferred to the West End in September 2022. This revised and updated edition was published to coincide with the new production.


About the Author
Robert Icke is a writer and director. His recent productions include Judas, Children of Nora and Oedipus at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, where he is Ibsen Artist in Residence; Enemy of the People (Park Avenue Armory); Ivanov (Schauspiel Stuttgart). His work while Associate Director at the Almeida included adapting and directing The Wild Duck, Mary Stuart (also West End and national tour), Uncle Vanya, Oresteia (also West End and Park Avenue Armory) and 1984 (co-created with Duncan Macmillan, also Broadway, West End, national and international tours); as a director, his productions included Hamlet (also West End and BBC2), The Fever and Mr Burns. His awards include two Evening Standard 'Best Director' Awards, the Critics' Circle Award, the Kurt Hübner Award for his debut production in Germany, and the Olivier Award for 'Best Director' for Oresteia, of which he is the youngest ever winner. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. roberticke.com