Hibernate
Tortoise in a Nutshell / Originally commissioned as a Co-Production with Lanternhouse, Cumbernauld Theatre
An old mouse attempts to create the perfect place to snuggle down for a long winter’s nap. Inside their humble home, they’re ready to hide away from the world outside…until a rambunctious squirrel absentmindedly stumbles into their serene sleeping abode...
Rustle, Rustle, Rustle
Snuffle, Snuffle, Snuffle
Not a sound to be heard
All is quiet, cosy and warm…
BANG CRASH BANG
What was that?!
An old mouse attempts to create the perfect place to snuggle down for a long winter’s nap. Inside their humble home, they’re ready to hide away from the world outside…until a rambunctious squirrel crashes into their serene sleeping abode with an invitation for Mouse that changes the course of their hibernation plan and brings back memories Mouse had long forgotten…
Hibernate is about re-emerging into the world and discovering relationships you didn’t know you needed, about finding hope and joy through connection with someone from an entirely different world from your own.
On arrival the piece welcomes audiences into a world of winter. A tree stump sits at the centre of the stage, surrounded by a paper lantern forest, the quiet home of Mouse. Living alone, and in the older years of their life, they live a life of set rhythm and isolation as they weather out the winter. Into this world explodes a ball of fur and frantic energy. A young squirrel with a passion for percussion and a very clear lack of understanding of formal social boundaries.
It’s a story aimed at exploring the relationship of two characters from very different generations. After the period of social isolation during the Covid19 pandemic, Hibernate looks to explore the emotional connection between the very young and older people. As an adaptable performance suitable for community settings, it provides a space for meeting and coming together to re-build connections lost over the past few years.
Adaptation
In 2022 Hibernate was adapted through funding from Puppet Animation Scotland and Creative Scotland. This adaptation focused on creating a high spec version of the show which does not rely on theatre provisions to be performed, instead it can tour directly into community settings. This makes the piece more accessible and able to reach more audiences. In 2022 this adaptation toured to Renfrew Town Hall and undertook a sold out run at WHALE Arts in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh. The WHALE run was supported with an access project which involved puppetry, arts and storytelling workshops with local groups and families directly within their community settings. For the future life of the piece, we will continue expanding the spaces it can visit and are looking at pairing care settings with nurseries.
Audience Reviews 2021
Hibernate premiered at Lanternhouse, Cumbernauld theatre in December 2021, completing a run of thirty performances to a total audience of 1300 individuals (83% of total capacity). Set against the complex backdrop of the Covid19 pandemic (Omicron Variant), a detailed and comprehensive approach to audience evaluation garnered an overwhelmingly positive audience response:
‘I took both my boys to Hibernate yesterday
and they were totally mesmerised and thoroughly enjoyed the show.
A brilliant first theatre experience for all the children there.’
‘A visually inspiring production with nice storytelling elements.
Puppets and set design were gorgeous’
‘All quite magical.’
‘My nearly 3-year-old had her first theatre experience with Hibernate on Saturday
and we could not be more pleased with how it went…
The show was charming and entertaining from start to finish
and kept all of the children (and adults) interested and invested.’
‘We loved Hibernate, the set was so clever
and the actors exceptional in bringing the puppets to life.
Excellent show’
‘This show was a joy.
We were there with our 4-year-old granddaughter
who was a bit nervous for her very first visit to a theatre.
She adored it.
The actors were brilliant and really engaged with their young audience…
The children’s laughter was heart-warming
and the enthusiasm with which they joined in the concert at the end was lovely.’
‘Hibernate was brilliant for my 4-year-old,
he really enjoyed it and has asked to see it again.
We’d love more shows like that!!!’
Credits
Production credit: By Tortoise in a Nutshell / Originally commissioned as a Co-Production with Lanternhouse, Cumbernauld Theatre
Co-Director/Designers: Alex Bird and Arran Howie
Associate Director: Matt Addicott
Composer: Jim Harbourne
Lighting Design: Michaella Fee
Producer: Li Kennedy
2022 Performance Team: Jessica Innes & Tim Licata
Original Performance Team: Jessica Innes & Charles Donnelly
