The Bear that Wasn't

A brand new production by String Theatre 

A curious young cub is accidentally swept into a bustling robot-run factory after being mistaken for a new worker. Struggling to keep up with the mechanical routines, the cub’s playful instincts begin to disrupt the system.

This highly visual story is brought to life through hand carved wooden marionettes, hand-painted sets and original music. Full of humour and striking imagery, the piece explores identity, the resilience of nature, and what happens when imagination meets a world of rules.

The show is inspired by the children’s book (of the same name) by Frank Tashlin. The production is designed to be inclusive, welcoming d/Deaf and hard of hearing audiences, and is available with audio description for blind and partially sighted audiences.

String Theatre most recently performed their hugely popular production of The Insect Circus with us. Based in London, String Theatre was founded in 2011 by puppeteers Stan Middleton and Soledad Zárate. They present live performances using long-string wood-carved marionettes on a custom-built touring stage. The company tours productions to festivals and theatres around the world (Argentina, Bosnia, Chile, France, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, Uruguay). 

Image from rehearsals

Further Information

This production is recommended for ages 4+ 

Running time: Approx 45 minutes with no interval 

Tickets

Adult £13.50

Child £11.50 

Family Ticket - 1 Adult and 3 children £45.00

Family Ticket - 2 Adults and 2 Children £47.00

Carer £8.00