HERCULES THE BEAR
Hercules The Bear is inspired by the incredible true story of a 10-foot grizzly bear raised in Scotland by human parents. Hercules eats cooked meals at the dinner table, swims in the swimming pool and even tours in a wrestling show!
But one day, while filming an advert on the islands of Uist, Hercules swims out to sea and disappears. The army is called, locals are told to stay indoors and experts say it
is only a matter of time before this starving grizzly bear will attack. Everyone thinks Hercules has returned to his wild side, but can he prove them wrong?
Hercules' life story is unbelievable, but it really happened. Right here in Scotland.
For audiences aged 6+ and their adults.
We previewed Hercules the Bear at The Gaiety, Ayr and premiered at The Carinish Village Hall, North Uist, to sell-out audiences and fantastically positive responses. We are hoping to tour Scotland in 2025/2026, so watch this space!
CREATIVE TEAM
Lead Artist/Designer/Puppet-Co-designer Fergus Dunnet
Performer Suzie Ferguson
Performer Diane Thornton
Performer Ben Winger
Director Emily Reutlinger
Sound Designer Susan Bear
Composer Padruig Morrison
Lighting Designer Kate Bonney
Puppet co-designer Gretchen Maynard-Hahn
Design Assistant Julia Darrouy
Costume Supervisor Jennie Loof
Creative Collaborator Andy Cannon
Production Manager Fi Fraser
Clown Consultant John Wright
Puppet Consultant Mervyn Millar
Producer Sarah Gray
MESS
For audiences with complex learning needs.
A classroom performance featuring character clowning, harmony singing, intensive interaction, suspense, and surprise. MESS is about turning an ordinary daily routine into an extraordinary adventure. MESS has been created in collaboration with Oaklands School, Edinburgh. MESS is toured schools across Scotland in 2019 with support from Creative Scotland and EIS, then again in 2021 in theatres and outdoor spaces, with the support of Creative Scotland.
Devised and performed by Ben Winger (lead artist), Diane Thornton, Suzie Ferguson, Kerry Cleland, Lucy McGreal, Ronan McMahon and Carmen Pieraccini
Music composed by John Kielty
Designed by Fergus Dunnet
Outside Eye Anna Newell
Co-deviser Lucy McGreal
Photography by Mihaela Bodlovic
MESS was originally developed by Ben Winger and associates in collaboration with Mavisbank School, Airdrie
Greg Sinclair is a composer, cellist and performance artist from Edinburgh, Scotland.
He makes embodied composition performances in a variety of forms: from small, intimate happenings to large-scale stage works. His work is often made in collaboration with other artists, children, young people, community members, or its audience.
Greg also composes music / sound design for theatre, dance & live art, and he performs in other companies work.
Lots and Not Lots
Part of the Made in Scotland showcase 2022
In association with Lyra and the Young Artists
Creative Team
Director/Composer - Greg Sinclair
Choreographer - Hannah Venet
Designer - Karen Tennent
Lighting Designer - Elle Taylor
A performance of thrilling extremes: lots of performers, lots of singing, lots of dancing. Choral singing blends with vocal weirdness, while formal patterns of movement transform into joyous line-dancing. The stage continuously evolves in a spectrum of nothingness to fullness, darkness to colour, silence to music as the exceptional young performers question the universe and their place within it.
Originally produced by National Theatre of Scotland as part of Futureproof Festival.
**** “concentrated vocal and musical energy” Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman.
www.madeinscotlandshowcase.com
Other work
A Piece of You
Imagine telling a story about yourself and then having it turned into a piece of music. A Piece of You is an intimate performance for up to three people at a time; a private concert for you and your friends or family. Award-winning performance artist, cellist and composer Greg Sinclair turns your thoughts and feelings into your very own music score in this unique piece all about you.
For audiences of up to 3 people. For venues or online - please contact us for availability.
Photo: Jassy Earl
Photo: Jassy Earl
Photo: Jassy Earl
As The Crow Flies_Photographer - Jassy Earl
THE POLAR BEARS GO, GO, GO!
A Unicorn / The Polar Bears production
By Ivor MacAskill & Fiona Manson
Director - Lee Lyford
Designer - Claire Halleran
Lighting Designer - Sam Waddington
Composer & Sound Designer - Greg Sinclair
Join the two very loveable but slightly hapless Polar Bears on their holiday adventures. Will they ever reach their destination? Or are they just going around in circles?
Have your ticket ready, find your seat, fasten your seatbelt and anchors aweigh – take off and go, go, go!
PREVIOUS TOUR DATES
JULY 2022
Platform, Easterhouse, Glasgow
Saturday 9 & Monday 11 July, 11am & 2pm
platform-online.co.uk | 01412769696 | BOOK TICKETS
Howden Park Centre, Livingston
Friday 15 July, 10.30am
howdenparkcentre.co.uk | 01506 340700 | BOOK TICKETS
The Palace, Kilmarnock
Sunday 17 July, 11am & 2pm
eastayrshireleisure.com | 01563 554900 | BOOK TICKETS
Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock
Wednesday 20 July, 11am & 2pm
beaconartscentre.co.uk | 01475 723723 | BOOK TICKETS
The Studio, Edinburgh (Capital Theatres)
Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 July, 11am & 2pm
capitaltheatres.com | 0131 529 6000 | BOOK TICKETS
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Thursday 28 July, 10.30am & 2pm
aberdeenperformingarts.com I 01224 641122 | BOOK TICKETS
Eden Court, Inverness
Saturday 30 July, 10.30am & 2pm
eden-court.co.uk | 01463 234234 | BOOK TICKETS
AUGUST 2022
Johnstone Town Hall
Thursday 4 August, 11am & 2pm
oneren.org | 0300 300 0250 | BOOK TICKETS
The Brunton, Musselburgh
Saturday 6 August, 11am & 2pm
thebrunton.co.uk | 0131 653 5245 | BOOK TICKETS
Perth Theatre
Tuesday 9 August, 10.30am & 2.30pm
horsecross.co.uk | 01738 621031 | BOOK TICKETS
Lanternhouse, Cumbernauld
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 August, 10am and 1pm
lanternhousearts.org | 01236 732887 | BOOK TICKETS
Photo credit: Craig Sugden
OTHER POLAR BEAR PRODUCTIONS
The Polar Bears Go Up
The Polar Bears and Unicorn Theatre co-production
Created and performed by Ivor MacAskill and Fiona Manson
Director - Lee Lyford
Designer - Claire Halleran
Lighting Designer - Kate Bonney
Composer & Sound Designer - Greg Sinclair
The Polar Bears are moving up in the world. They’ve lost their balloon and they need to get it back. It’s time to Get up, Step up, climb up, jump up One thing’s for sure, the only way is Up!
These two lovable Polar Bears are intrepid explorers, famous for their wild expeditions. This time they’ll be climbing trees, jumping on clouds and reaching for the stars as they race all the way up to space. Of course, they’ll stop for sandwiches on the way!
A fun, surreal and highly enjoyable treat for children aged 2-5.
Photo credit: Richard Davenport
The Polar Bears are the creation of Ivor MacAskill and Fiona Manson. Gentle, silent wanderers led by their sense of curiosity and their stomachs, the bears were originally created for an Imaginate Family Fringe event and since then have presented their walkabout performances and sit-down family shows across the UK.
Available for touring
Commissioned by Imaginate and Perth Theatre
A month after losing her big brother to suicide, Laura’s parents buy her a pet tiger. They never explain the tiger and never discuss Laura’s big brother. Not ever. It’s like Laura’s big brother didn’t exist. And having a pet tiger is illegal for a reason. Soon things start to spiral out of control… as things tend to do with feelings of grief… and tigers…
Inspired by two facts – that the number one killer of men in the UK under 40 is suicide, and that there are now more tigers kept as pets than live in the wild – this is a drama about how to survive when the worst has happened. Heart-breaking, comic and thought-provoking, I Am Tiger is about trying to live with loss, how keeping wild animals at home will quickly increase your shopping bills, and why keeping silent is not always the best solution.
Written by Oliver Emanuel
Director: Lu Kemp
Set & Costume Design: Jamie Vartan
Lighting Design: Simon Wilkinson
There will be a creative writing workshop and resources available to support pupils and teachers on the themes raised in this show.
Photos by Mihaela Bodlovic
