We’re not scared.... The smash-hit production of WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT is coming to The Lowry this Christmas season!

The smash-hit production of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt comes to The Lowry for the Christmas season as part of its UK tour.

Sally Cookson’s hugely inventive production set to Benji Bower’s lively musical score is a mischievous celebration of play, utilising everyday objects and materials to capture the imagination and propel audiences into the world of Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury’s much loved picture book.

Music, laughter, rhymes, rhythms and repetitions together with puppetry, paint, water and mud – not to mention a bear – we’re not scared! – make this fun-filled adventure the perfect theatrical outing for all young families.

Join our intrepid family of adventurers and their musical dog as they wade through the swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river, the thick oozy squelchy mud and the swirling, whirling snowstorm, in search of a bear. Expect plenty of interaction and a few surprises along the way.

Michael Rosen says of the live theatre show: ”This production of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt takes everyone on the journey – not under, not over, oh no – through it! – in a funny, exuberant and loving way. It’s a show full of laughter, music, silliness and thrills that I promise you will excite and delight all young children. This is a must-go show.”

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is presented by Kenny Wax Family Entertainment and is created by the critically acclaimed production team including director Sally Cookson, composer Benji Bower, designer Katie Sykes, lighting designer Tony Simpson, sound designer Jason Barnes and associate director and puppet designer Marc Parrett.

Neha Eapen plays Girl. Her theatre credits include Lottie in The Not so Grimm Twins (Wrongsemble), and Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (for PHA/Leeds Carriageworks), for which she won the Best Newcomer Award at The Pantomime Awards 2023.

Benedict Hastings returns to the company to play Boy. His theatrical credits include Stel & Wes Fight the Flood (Norwich Puppet Theatre), Frankenstein (Blackeyed Theatre), Zog (Freckle Productions), Sitting by Katherine Parkinson (Take Two Theatricals), We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and What the Ladybird Heard (Kenny Wax Family Entertainment), 3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down (Finborough Theatre), Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies (RSC), The Mermaid of Zennor (Moon on a Stick) and Being Human (Belgrade Theatre). Over the COVID-19 crisis, Benedict co-created Doorstep Puppet Theatre, bringing shadow puppet shows including The Little Mermaid Finds Her Voice, ROAR-punzel – Rapunzel, but with Dinosaurs and Who Killed Mr Punch? to households across London. Most recently, Benedict starred in the Olivier Award-winning Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show, playing Duggee and Narrator.

Tim Hibberd returns to play Dad. His theatrical credits include The Snail and the Whale and Mr. Benn (Tall Stories), Paddington and Charlotte’s Web (Polka Theatre), and Peasouper and Dusty Fruit (Rejects Revenge). His TV credits include Mr Fen in Topsy and Tim and Vincent Van Coconut in Art Attack.

Ben Hills returns to play Dog/Musician. He has worked as a singer with ITV, BBC and Fremantle on shows including BBC’s I Can See Your Voice and ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent. He has toured as a professional musician since 2018, working on London’s West End and internationally.

Ross McKenna joins the company as Understudy/ASM. His theatrical credits include Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Erasmus Theatre), Luca in San Domino (Tristan Bates Theatre) and Smashed (Collingwood Learning). His credits whilst training include Brendan Behan in The Hostage, Gabriel Conroy in The Dead, Francis Fryer in Calamity Jane and Florizel in The Winter’s Tale.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is at The Lowry, Salford from Thursday 7th December 2023 to Sunday 7th January 2024. For more information and tickets visit www.thelowry.com.

-ENDS-

For further information and to arrange interviews please email Jennifer Dean at jennifer.dean@thelowry.com

Production images are available to download HERE

LISTINGS

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Thursday 7th December 2023 to Sunday 7th January 2024

THE LOWRY, SALFORD www.thelowry.com

ON SALE NOW thelowry.com/whats-on/were-going-on-a-bear-hunt/

Running time: 55 minutes, no interval         Most suitable for ages 3+

Show website www.bearhuntlive.com

Social media handles @bearhuntlive

Notes to the Editors

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Live on Stage celebrates its 15th anniversary this year.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, is the winner of various awards including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. A star-studded animated film version of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt was shown on Christmas Eve 2016 on Channel 4.

Sally Cookson – Director and Adapter

Cookson’s most recent theatre works include the upcoming Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning (National Theatre of Scotland and Aberdeen Performing Arts in association with Belgrade Theatre, Coventry), A Monster Calls (The Old Vic), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Bridge Theatre). For Kenny Wax her credits include La Strada and Hetty Feather (Olivier Award nominated). For the National Theatre her credits include Jane Eyre, Peter Pan (both co-productions with Bristol Old Vic). She is an Associate Artist at Bristol Old Vic, where her productions include Jane Eyre, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Treasure Island, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Papa Please Get the Moon for Me, Clown, Strange Case, Pericles, Pains of Youth, The Visit. Her numerous collaborations with Travelling Light theatre include Strictly Balti, The Ugly Duckling, Boing!, How Cold My Toes, Shadowplay, Cloudland, Lenny, Bob the Man on the Moon. For Tobacco Factory her credits include One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Cinderella – A Fairy-tale (Olivier Award nominated). Other theatre includes Romeo and Juliet (Rose Theatre Kingston), Stick Man and Tiddler and other Terrific Tales (Scamp Theatre).

Kenny Wax Family Entertainment

Kenny has produced some of the best family theatre both in the West End, on tour and around the world. Productions include Olivier Award winner Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, Identical, Tom, Dick and Harry, Bugsy Malone, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Around the World in 80 Days, What the Ladybird Heard, Oi Frog & Friends! (Olivier Award nominated), Mr Popper’s Penguins, the stage adaptations of Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather (Olivier Award nominated) and Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch (Olivier Award winner for ‘Best Family Show’). SIX is Kenny’s smash-hit musical in the West End, on a UK tour, in Australia, and on Broadway. Kenny has also produced several shows with comedy troupe Mischief including The Play That Goes Wrong, Magic Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery. He is also an Executive Producer of the incredibly popular TV series The Goes Wrong Show.

Mandatory legal line – Please include the credit, as shown below, with the book cover artwork:

Illustrations © 1989 Helen Oxenbury from We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Photo credit – Lesley Cook. Production photo/s include previous cast members.