Dr Stirlingshire’s Discovery

A co-production between GRID IRON and LUNG HA THEATRE COMPANY in partnership with RZSS EDINBURGH ZOO and ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE EDINBURGH

A site-specific, promenade theatre production in RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

1st – 9th April 2017

RZSS Edinburgh Zoo
Part of Edinburgh International Science Festival

AWARDS

Nominated for Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland in the Best Technical Presentation and Best Production for Children & Young People categories.
Nominated for The Drum Scottish Event Awards Cause Related/ Charity Event of the Year.
Winner of The Drum Scottish Event Awards Small Event of the Year.

For all of history this creature has evaded discovery.
Until now…

Dr Vivien Stirlingshire, a cryptozoologist, is unveiling her latest discovery at the world famous RZSS Edinburgh Zoo. A cryptozoologist? I am sure you know they travel the world seeking out hidden and, as yet, undiscovered “animals” – you know the type – the Yeti or closer to home the Loch Ness Monster. Her brother Henry, the Zoo Manager, has organised a grand welcoming party but believes his sister has an overactive imagination – “she’s not a proper scientist; after all she believes in The Wild Haggis. No really, she does!”.

This magical promenade performance takes you on a journey both inside and outside at the Zoo, where you will meet a diverse range of characters and various forms of life, from squabbling Zoo guides to dancing penguins (not real ones of course) to…

Well, truth is Dr Stirlingshire doesn’t know what to call it yet… perhaps the Something-Or-Other?

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What The Press Said

“At the heart of Morna Pearson’s tale is both an examination of the scientific method and a genuine emotional story of a sibling rivalry with very believable consequences… it’s fair to say there’s little here not to like.”

Broadway Baby★★★

“Writer Morna Pearson and directors Joe Douglas and Lung Ha’s Maria Oller rise to the considerable challenge of a large mixed-ability cast and a sprawling location. The actors work hard to maintain the heightened mood of slapstick comedy, there are vignettes of delicious eccentricity alongside the main action and a poignant moment when we are all press-ganged to attend the leaving party for Old Billy (John Edgar) who has worked at the zoo for so long no one seems to remember him.”

The Scotsman★★★

“There’s something uniquely magical about arriving for an evening of theatre through the member gate of Edinburgh Zoo. As a setting it’s unique – of course it’s not the only zoo, but the panoramic views over majestic rolling hills and cityscape nestled beneath make for a stunning vista… The zoo provides a playground for performers, enabling an energy and physicality which simply isn’t possible in a proscenium arch or studio environment. There’s a joy to watching characters hurtling around, covering large distances with relative speed, being transported in a golf buggy and providing silent movie style comedy routines in the far background, while we pass by on foot. It’s thrilling to see this kind of theatre being staged… There’s plenty of comedy and the show is interactive – well calibrated to suit children.”

The Wee Review★★★

“Dr Stirlingshire’s Discovery offers a trip to Edinburgh Zoo with a difference… Morna Pearson’s Pythonesque script … [has] some weird and wonderful creatures up its sleeves… if the jokes are good so are the performances. The humour of the Lung Ha chorus is a delight, while the talented Anthony Strachan gives a deliciously over-the-top performance as the pompous, but ultimately conciliatory, Henry Stirlingshire.”

The Telegraph★★★

“Delightful family theatre from Grid Iron and Lung Ha… it’s always exciting going to the zoo, but to be nipping in afterhours is doubly special… There’s plenty to delight on many levels – from the trail left by the escaped discovery itself, to punning wordplay in Morna Pearson’s script and performances that are both funny and find the emotional heart of the Stirlingshire’s relationship.”

The List★★★★

“If you go down to the Zoo today you’re sure of a big surprise…The performance takes its audience on a promenade adventure that holds wonder in every step… Under the impressive joint direction of Joe Douglas and Maria Oller, this huge cast entertains all the way, delivering Morna Pearson’s witty dialogue to superb sound and music from Philip Pinsky. Positive accolades like uplifting and inspiring apply in spades to this surreal show that has an elephants weight in imagination and a monkey’s cage full of mischief. This enormously entertaining piece of collaborative, interactive and inclusive theatre holds the serious message about a woman whose mission in life is to discover new species at a time when species are becoming rapidly endangered. Like all wonderful things in life, Dr Stirlingshire’s ‘Somfinorother’ is always just out of reach but manages to hold immense hope. Follow the purple poo in the zoo for a safari like no other!”

EdinburghGuide.com★★★★

Cast

Geena: Emma McCaffrey

Thomas: Neil John Gibson

Henry Stirlingshire: Antony Strachan

Little Birdy: Emma Clark

Dr Vivien Stirlingshire: Nicola Tuxworth

Barry: Kristopher Anderson

Ryan: Jonathan Allen

Hillary: Lisa Jennings

Monica: Pauline Lockhart

Finlay: Paul Harper

Kyle: Scott Davidson

Penny: Kay Ann Jacobs

Old Billy: John Edgar

Davina: Pauline Lockhart

Mayor of Edinburgh: Mark Howie

Sally: Leigh Flynn

Robin: Kenny Ainslie

Ashley: Teri Robb

Mackenzie: Gavin Yule

Smudge: Colin McIllevnney

COMEDIANS

Jamie: Keith Watson
Beth: Katie Gow
Louise: Amy McCombe
Stuart: Alan Simpson
Ross: Michael Connelly
Pal: Chantelle Wood
Friend: Fraser Walker

PENGUINS

Mittens: Katy Gow

Phil: Michael Connolly

Lil: Amy McCombes

Dennis: Keith Watson

Boy: Alan Simpson

Bruce: Kenny Ainslie

Colin: Gavin Yule

Bruceta: Teri Robb

Eddie: Fraser Walker

BB: Chantelle Wood

HENS

Katy Gow (Bride)

Teri Robb

Amy McCombes

Kay Ann Jacobs

Leigh Flynn

STAGS

Keith Watson (Groom)

Paul Harper

Kenny Ainslie

Michael Connolly

Alan Simpson

Fraser Walker

Production Team

GRID IRON

Co-Artistic Director/Producer:
Judith Doherty

Finance & Development Manager:
Deborah Crewe

LUNG HA THEATRE COMPANY

Artistic Director:
Maria Oller

Company Manager:
Michael Fraser

Creative Administrator:
Electra Gouni

Company Support Worker:
Becky Leach

CREATIVE TEAM

Co-Director:
Maria Oller

Co-Director:
Joe Douglas

Writer:
Morna Pearson

Producer:
Judith Doherty

Dramaturg:
Ben Harrison

Assistant Director:
Amy Gilmartin

Set & Costume Designer:
Karen Tennent

Composer/Sound Designer:
Philip Pinsky

Lighting Designer:
Simon Wilkinson

Choreographer:
Rob Heaslip

Production Manager:
Fiona Fraser

Technical Manager:
Paul Claydon

Stage Manager:
Mickey Graham

Stage Manager:
Gemma Turner

Deputy Stage Manager:
Naomi Stalker

Costume Supervisor:
Alison Brown

Costume Assistant/Dresser:
Emily Kenyon-Roberts

Dresser:
Pam Fulton

Lighting Technician:
Andy Gannon

Sound Engineer:
Andrew Kirkby

Front of House:
Rob Macdonald

Set Construction:
Big House Events

Signage Design:
Valerie Reid

Print Design:
Emma Quinn

Production Photography:
Pete Dibdin

PR:
Liz Smith

Marketing:
The Corner Shop Scotland

LUNG HA THEATRE COMPANY SUPPORT WORKERS

Paul Vallis

Lindsey Rowlands

Belle Claudi

Lyndsey McLean

Lisa Jennings

Leah Kincer

Calum Macleod

Sheila Thomson

Rachel Duke

Joanne Sykes

Andrew Edwards

Chantelle Wood

Fraser Walker

OTHER SUPPORT

Elaine Clark

Eileen and Douglas Bellyne

Mary Davidson

LYCEUM FOH TEAM

Marco Barton

Maria Papageorgiou

Nick Wood

Robert Castle

Sean Langtree

View Our Programme

To read more information about the show, including the Director’s Note and team biographies, have a look through our production programme.

Download our programme pdf here

Supporters

The production was kindly supported by the following…

Past Productions

The productions are listed in chronological order with the most recent first.

If you want to know more about our work or just want to get in touch to say hi!
You can reach us by clicking here.

Dr Stirlingshire’s Discovery

AWARDS

What The Press Said

Cast

COMEDIANS

PENGUINS

HENS

STAGS

Production Team

GRID IRON

LUNG HA THEATRE COMPANY

CREATIVE TEAM

LUNG HA THEATRE COMPANY SUPPORT WORKERS

OTHER SUPPORT

LYCEUM FOH TEAM

View Our Programme

Supporters

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Past Productions

June Carter Cash

Muster Station: Leith

Doppler

Strange Tales 聊斋

The Brunch Club

South Bend

Bingo!

Jury Play

Dr Stirlingshire’s Discovery

Crude

The Devil’s Larder (2015)

Light Boxes

Letters Home

Leaving Planet Earth

The Authorised Kate Bane

Barflies (2012)

What Remains

Spring Awakening

Decky Does a Bronco (2010)

Huxley’s Lab

Barflies (2009)

Tryst

Yarn

Once Upon A Dragon

Roam

Those Eyes That Mouth (Beirut)

The Devil’s Larder (2005)

Naw Nader Men al Houb

Fierce

Those Eyes That Mouth (2003)

The Houghmagandie Pack

Variety

Fermentation

Decky Does a Bronco (2000-2002)

Monumental

Gargantua

The Bloody Chamber

Clearance

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