The Bear

The story of an everyday murder and a mythic bear

An Associate Artist project in collaboration with Angela Clerkin

Angela is a solicitor’s clerk. She’s working with the defence team on a murder. In the cells under the Old Bailey, she meets the defendant. “I didn’t do it” he says “The Bear did it. I saw it.”

He’s obviously lying. Or mad. This is London after all. But Angela does some digging and she finds someone else who saw the bear. Without quite knowing how, Angela finds herself hunting the bear. Until she discovers the bear is hunting her.

Angela Clerkin and Guy Dartnell tell the story of an everyday murder and a mythic bear. A funny, challenging and beautiful show about disavowed anger and how to survive a bear attack.

The Bear was created as an Improbable Associate Artist Project, a programme where Improbable provide artistic, production, and mentoring support for our Associate Artists and artistic collaborators.

The Bear was first performed at Jacksons Lane in 2013, and then toured the UK, with sell-out shows at the Tobacco Factory (Bristol), the Royal Exchange (Manchester) and Brighton Fringe Festival, ending with a three-week run at Ovalhouse.

Directed by Lee Simpson
Designed by Rae Smith & Lucy Sierra
Produced by Leo Wood
Production Managed by Mishi Bekesi
Lighting Design by Beky Stoddart
Sound Design by Mark Cunningham
Composed by Nick Powell
Fight Direction by Matilda Leyser
Photography by Sheila Burnett

Based on an original short story The Bear by Angela Clerkin & Lee Simpson.
Performed by Angela Clerkin & Guy Dartnell