Hercules the Bear
★★★☆☆ Gentle giant
Studio Theatre: Tue 30 Sept 2025 & tour.
Review by Sophie Good
Tenterhooks’ Hercules the Bear is an entertaining piece of physical theatre based on the extraordinary and true story of a bear and his human “parents” who lived with him in Sheriffmuir in the 1980s.
The life and times of Herc, and his ‘mum and dad’ Andy and Maggie Robin, is such a tall tale, it’s hard to fathom that it really did happen and they became something of a legend in their native Stirlingshire. The couple already lived extraordinary lives, filming Jame Bond films, adverts, staging wrestling matches and picnicking under waterfalls.
Suzie Ferguson and Ben Winger in Hercules The Bear. Pic: Eoin Carey.
The play is predominantly non verbal – with some pieces of dialogue and voiceover. Suzie Ferguson, who plays and puppeteers Hercules, opens the show in the most human-like version of her three ‘bear’ guises: a cute pair of ears and button nose.
She roams the audience as Andy (Ben Winger) attempts to control the chaos, romping about, stealing coats and causing havoc. Andy and mum Maggie (Diane Thornton) greet friends and neighbours in the local community. The juxtaposition of their daily lives alongside owning a 10-foot grizzly bear sets the tone of surrealism.
Turning to Hercules’ cub years, played as a very different and very cute cub puppet, shows the familial bond that grows between this loveable pup (bought for £50, apparently) and the two adults who take on this crazy challenge.
a gentle tale
Winger does a great job in showing how professional wrestler Andy manages the sheer physical challenge as Herc develops into a much bigger fully grown bear. Thornton depicts Maggie with sensitivity and love, showing the softer side of their bond with the animal.
Devised by the cast, led by Fergus Dunnet and co-directed by Emily Reutlinger, the level of creative collaboration is clear to see. With children’s theatre specialist Andy Cannon as creative collaborator, Mervyn Millar as puppetry consultant and John Wright as clown consultant, it has been carefully crafted to convey a gentle tale. Maggie Robin, herself, also had input and held a post-show Q&A at the performance Æ was at.
Suzie Ferguson, Diane Thornton and Ben Winger in Hercules The Bear. Pic: Eoin Carey.
The puppets are made by Dunnet, with Gretchen Maynard-Hahn, and costumes are by Jennie Lööf. The full size puppet is an engaging and not at all scary depiction of adult Hercules. Brought to life by Ferguson with impressive physical prowess, like all good puppeteers, they are very much at one with the bear and are entirely believable and engaging as a gentle giant.
The story follows Herc from his cub-hood through to his illustrious career as both a local celebrity and in demand film star, but focusses on one incident. During his appearance in a tissue advert, filmed on the islands of Uist, Hercules swims off and disappears for over three weeks. Local school children are sent home, and the search stretches out until Andy and Maggie are finally able to track him down.
Aside from that, there are lots of non narrative moments – one of the most enjoyable being the inflatable wrestling ring which is blown up live on stage and sees Andy vs Hercules enact a (very gentle) entertaining wrestling match. There are also moments of pure anthropomorphism which verge into the abstract as Hercules poses on a catwalk and becomes a super hero.
fun and entertaining
All of this is very fun and entertaining, but the piece doesn’t necessarily have much narrative thrust to push the story forward. It’s more about their situation than ‘what happens’ and doesn’t work towards a clear conclusion.
Aimed at children aged over six, this isn’t an essential part, but our young reviewer (aged 8) was looking for a bit more of a story that might give a real insight into Hercules’ life and times. The audience questions to Maggie at the end (What did he eat? Where did he sleep?) demonstrates an appetite for the domestic reality of this tale.
Diane Thornton, Suzie Ferguson and Ben Winger in Hercules The Bear. Pic: Eoin Carey.
It’s certainly entertaining and engaging, and will work well in the community spaces as it tours across Scotland, visiting many of the places that Hercules himself visited back in the day, from Highland towns to village halls.
It is also a truly accessibly piece with all performances ‘Relaxed’ meaning that it is well suited to young people who might struggle with a traditional or long performance (full details on the Tenterhooks website, linked below).
Hercules the Bear is a raucous, rambunctious, silly and bizarre show, it’s inclusive and will engage audiences with its delightful depiction of extraordinary lives.
Running time: 50 minutes (no interval) plus 20 minute Q&A.
The Studio, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL.
Tue 30 Sep 2025
Evening: 6pm.
Run ended but show is now touring through to November 1 2025.
Tenterhooks links
Website: www.tenterhooks.org.
Instagram: @tenterhookstheatre.
Facebook: @Tenterhooks.
Hercules the Bear on Tour 2025
Saturday, 27 September
The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr (with Q&A).
Tuesday, 30 September
The Studio, Edinburgh (with Q&A).
Thursday, 2 October
Birnam Arts, Dunkeld.
Friday, 3 October
Lantern House, Studio Theatre, Cumbernauld (BSL Interpreted).
Saturday, 4 October
Strathearn Arts, Crieff.
Tuesday, 7 October
Catstrand, Castle Douglas (BSL Interpreted).
Wednesday, 8 October
Millennium Centre, Stranraer (BSL Interpreted).
Thursday, 9 October
Paisley Arts Centre.
Saturday, 11 October
Platform, Easterhouse.
Sunday, 12 October
Eastwood Park, Giffnock (BSL Interpreted).
Thursday, 16 October
Carinish Village Hall, Uist.
Saturday, 18 October
An Lanntair Arts Centre, Stornoway.
Tuesday, 21 October
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness.
Wednesday, 22 October
Cromarty Arts Trust, Cromarty.
Friday, 24 October
The Barn Arts, Banchory.
Sunday, 26 October
Victoria Hall, Dunblane.
Tuesday, 28 October
Aytoun Hall, Auchterarder.
Wednesday, 29 October
Aytoun Hall, Auchterarder.
Saturday, 1 November
Fersands Fountain Community Centre, Aberdeen.
ENDS
