Fun and lighthearted, Hercules the Bear is a unique production of a unbelievable true story. Take the kids!
The tale of a couple raising a grizzly bear in their home who would go on to become somewhat of a contemporary folk hero might sound quite far fetched, but it was the incredible true reality of Andy and Maggie Robin and their grizzly, Hercules, in the 80’s in Sheriffmuir, Scotland. Tenderhooks introduces the story of Hercules the Bear to the stage for the first time combining theatre, physical theatre and puppetry in a lighthearted production of the slightly unorthodox life that comes with raising and living with a 10-foot bear. From the couple’s first day with the new mischievous bear cub to his rise in fame in Scotland and abroad to his worrying disappearance (don’t worry, he is found again!), we get to experience a little of the great bear that was Hercules.
Lead Artist Fergus Dunnet and the whole production crew have created a delightful design and atmosphere to tell this wholesome story. The stage is a dynamic and multifunctional playground that shifts from a comfortable house to wrestling area to the wilds of Scotland with great fluidity and strategic simplicity in a compact square of space. The lighting design being a part of the stage with carnivalesque hanging bulbs and a lighting backboard allowed for a multitude of spaces to come to life. The shifting sound design/composition with its cheerful theme tune and slight Celtic lilt added to the folksy feeling. The unfurling of the inflatable wrestling mat was one of the highlights. Overall, the effectiveness of all the elements was of a high standard and therefore fantastic to witness.
Actors Diane Thorton and Ben Winger who make for an engaging Andy and Maggie, lean into the cartoonish and expressive silly side of physical theatre, energetically interacting with the audience in bright synthetic jumpsuits. Their comedic timing, choreography and innovative use of the props kept the storytelling fun and easy to follow. As he should be, the adult puppet of Hercules is striking. Puppeteer-ed with great skill and understanding by Suzie Ferguson, the ‘gentle giant’ of Hercules is brought to life in a very real way, with the overall design of the full body puppet being wonderfully lifelike in both size, quality and finish. Amazing stuff.
The show does a great job in its aim to be accessible to everyone however, there is quite a heavy tilt towards a young audience in the manner and presentation of the story which is a bit surprising if not expected. With little spoken dialogue combined with the innocence and lightness of tone, it falls more into the category of being a children’s theatre production which works well if that is its goal. This is not a negative thing at all, in fact it leaves great potential if it were to become a bigger production aimed at an older audience.
The story of Hercules is unique and unforgettable and this production gives a fun and gentle overview of the spectacular life, adventure and bond between a special bear and the couple that set out to care for him.