Courage can come from the smallest of places.
Shō and the Demons of the Deep is a visual adventure story about overcoming fear, climate crisis and how the actions of one generation can affect the next. Designed for everyone aged 8+, the show is inspired by the picture book of the same name by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko.
Shō’s city has been plagued by nightmares for as long as she can remember, but hers are the worst of all. One day, Shō has had enough. She throws her nightmares away into the river, where they wash out to sea. Soon people start copying her; the city is rid of its nightmares, and everyone is delighted. But sixty years later, when the river becomes poisoned, Shō’s granddaughter Hana must face her greatest fears in order to save her home.
Running Time: 60 minutes
Age recommendation: 8 years and over
Touring Scotland: 12 April – 5 June 2024 (all tour dates below)
Scroll down for tour details, access information, activities & a learners’ resource pack.
SHŌ AND THE DEMONS OF THE DEEP
by Zoë Bullock, adapted from the work by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko
Director Shilpa T-Hyland
Set & Costume Designer Claire Halleran
Lighting Designer Kate Bonney
Composer & Sound Designer Niroshini Thambar
Movement Director Mele Broomes
Design Assistant Morven McLeod
Performers Itxaso Moreno, Christina Strachan, Rebecca Wilkie
Stage Manager Natalie Welch
Technical Stage Manager Becky Kirkness
Wardrobe Supervisor Vicki Brown
Scenic Artists Frankie Collier-Pricket, Martha Steed
Set Builder Mike Collier-Pricket
Production Manager Grahame Coyle
Projects Coordinator Rosie Ward
Marketing Coordinator Jane Hamilton
Producer Mhari Robinson
Audio Description Emma-Jane McHendry
BSL interpretation Catherine King
Captioning Alison Pendlowski
An Independent Arts Projects (IAP) production in association with National Theatre of Scotland
Supported by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund, & Federation of Scottish Theatre. Development supported by Imaginate and Playwrights Studio Scotland.
With thanks to: Fiona, Rhea, Kirsty, Allie, Rosie, Caroline, Jo, Carrie, Paul, Chris, Jane, Catherine, Emma, Nicky, Liam, Bullet (the dog), and all the other supporters of this work who have heartened, & encouraged us along the way.
Our collaborators who contributed towards the production’s research & development phases: Sarah Rose Graber, Amy Kennedy, Lesley Lemon, Sarah Miele, Houmi Miura, Jade Ogugua, Christine Ting-Huan Urquhart.
Special thanks to P6 & P7 pupils & teachers at Annette Street Primary School and St Joseph’s Primary School, Glasgow.
Touring Scotland: 12 April – 5 June 2024
12-13 April, Platform, Easterhouse
- 7pm, Fri 12 April
- 2pm, Sat 13 April
Fri 12 at 7pm
– BSL interpretation (integrated) by Catherine King
– Audio Description by Emma-Jane McHendry
Sat 13 at 2pm
– Captioning provided by Alison Pendlowski
Platform, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, Glasgow, G34 9JW
Book tickets: platform-online.co.uk
Venue information (inc. travel and access info and video): platform-online.co.uk
17 April, The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
- 10.30am, Wed 17 April
- 7.30pm, Wed 17 April
7.30pm, Wed 17 April
– BSL interpretation (integrated) by Catherine King
– Captioning provided by Alison Pendlowski
The Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT
Book tickets: aberdeenperformingarts.com
Venue access information: aberdeenperformingarts.com/lemon-tree-access
24 April, Mareel, Lerwick
- 11am, Wed 24 April (schools only)
- 6.30pm, Wed 24 April
Mareel, Shetland Arts Development Agency, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0W
Book tickets: shetlandarts.org/sho-and-the-demons-of-the-deep
Venue information: shetlandarts.org/venues/mareel
30 Apr, Mull Theatre, Druimfin
- 4:30pm, Tues 30 April
Mull Theatre, Druimfin, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, PA75 6QB
Book tickets: antobarandmulltheatre.co.uk/sh-and-the-demons-of-the-deep
Venue information: antobarandmulltheatre.co.uk/visitus
3 May, Dunoon Burgh Hall, Dunoon
- 1:45pm, Fri 3 May
Dunoon Burgh Hall, 195 Argyll Street, Dunoon, Argyll, PA23 7DD
Book tickets: dunoonburghhall.org.uk/sho-and-the-demons-of-the-deep
Venue information (inc. access info): dunoonburghhall.org.uk/visit
8 May, Birnam Arts, Dunkeld
- 1:30pm, Wed 8 May (exact time TBC)
Birnam Arts, Station Rd, Dunkeld, PH8 0DS
Book tickets: birnamarts.com/Sho-and-the-Demons-of-the-Deep
Venue information (inc. accessibility info): birnamarts.com/Visitor-Information
11 May, Melrose Corn Exchange, Melrose
- 2:30pm, Sat 11 May
Melrose Corn Exchange, Market Square, Melrose, TD6 9PN
Book tickets: liveborders.org.uk/sho-and-the-demons-of-the-deep
Venue information: liveborders.org.uk/town-halls
Please contact venues@liveborders1.org.uk for access info
16-17 May, Lyth Arts Centre, nr Wick
- 10am, Thurs 16 May (schools only)
- 1pm, Thurs 16 May (school only)
- 1pm, Fri 17 May (school only)
- 7pm, Fri 17 May
Lyth Arts Centre, Wick, KW1 4UD
Book tickets: lytharts.org.uk/sho-and-the-demons-of-the-deep
Venue information (inc. access info and video): lytharts.org.uk/visit-us
21-22 May, The Bridge, Dumfries
- 10:30am, Tues 21 May (schools only)
- 1:30pm, Tues 21 May (schools only)
- 1:30pm, Wed 22 May (schools only)
- 7pm, Wed 22nd May
The Bridge, Glasgow Rd, Dumfries, DG2 9AW
Book tickets: dgartsfestival.org.uk/sho-and-the-demons-of-the-deep
Venue information: dgartsfestival.org.uk/the-bridge-dumfries
27-30 May, Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, Traverse Theatre
- 10am, Mon 27 May
- 1pm, Mon 27 May
- 10am, Tues 28 May
- 1pm, Tues 28 May
- 1pm, Wed 29 May
- 7pm, Wed 29 May
- 9:45am, Thurs 30 May
Wed 29 at 1pm
– Guided tour available for this performance
Wed 29 at 7pm
– BSL interpretation (integrated) by Catherine King
– Audio Description by Emma-Jane McHendry
– Guided tour available for this performance
Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh EH1 2ED
Book tickets: imaginate.org.uk/sh-and-the-demons-of-the-deep
Venue information (inc. access info): www.traverse.co.uk/your-visit
3 June, Eden Court, Inverness
- 1.30pm, Mon 3 June
Eden Court Theatre, Bishops Rd, Inverness, IV3 5SA
Book tickets: eden-court.co.uk/sho-and-the-demons-of-the-deep
Venue information (inc. access info): eden-court.co.uk/your-visit
5 June, The Byre Theatre, St. Andrews
- 6pm, Wed 5 June
The Byre Theatre, Abbey St, St. Andrews, KY16 9LA
Book tickets: byretheatre.com/sho-and-the-demons-of-the-deep/
Venue information: byretheatre.com/your-visit/getting-here
Access info: byretheatre.com/accessibility
Access Information
- Audio Description and a pre-show Guided Tour by Emma-Jane McHenry at:
- 7pm, Fri 12th April at Platform, Easterhouse
- 7pm, Wed 29th May at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
- Arrive 1hr ahead for Pre-Show Guided Tour
- Arrive 15 minutes ahead for Audio Description
- BSL interpretation by Catherine King at:
- 7pm, Fri 12th April at Platform, Easterhouse
- 7.30pm, Wed 17th April at the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
- 7pm, Wed 29th May at Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
- 6pm, Wed 5th June at The Byre Theatre, St Andrews
- Captioning by Alison Pendlowski at:
- 2pm, Saturday 13th April at Platform, Easterhouse
- 7.30pm, Wed 17th April at the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
- Break Out Space by Kirstin Abraham & Geraldine Heaney at Platform, Easterhouse:
- 6-9pm, Friday 12th April
- 1-4pm, Saturday 13th April
- Visual Guides/Stories will be available to download from this page & NTS website from the 12th April
- For the show
- For all the venues on tour
Resource Pack for young people and their adults
Prepared by Tanya McLaughlin & designed by Mamoru Iriguchi
Activity ideas for Shō and the Demons of the Deep
…linked to Hope, Change and Connection
Hope
- Let’s grow together! Engage children in activities like planting seeds or gardening, explaining how we see hope through witnessing growth and renewal.
- Get out into your community! Encourage and support the children to participate in community projects where they can see the positive impact of their actions on others’ lives.
- What’s good today? Create a book/jar where children and adults can write down things they’re hopeful for each day, fostering a sense of optimism and positivity.
Change
- Is it a sauce bottle or is it a spaceship? Encourage reusing and recycling by getting creative with how you use everyday household packaging. Some empty cereal boxes or a city landscape?
- Let’s talk change! Hold a family meeting to discuss and plan small changes within your home that promote sustainability or efficiency, empowering children to be active participants in creating a better environment.
- What in the world! Discuss current events or social issues in an age-appropriate manner, encouraging children to think critically about the world around them and think about making some small but positive changes.
Connection
- Let’s play! Have regular family game nights, providing opportunities for bonding and shared experiences.
- When was that? Create a family tree or a photo album together, exploring and documenting family history to strengthen bonds across generations.
- Leave the screens at home! Have regular outings or nature walks where everyone can disconnect from technology and connect with each other and nature.
The team behind Shō and the Demons of the Deep
(middle, l-r) Mele Broomes, Becky Kirkness, Niroshini Thambar, Catherine King, Natalie Welch, Vicki Brown, Mhari Robinson, Morven McLeod, Grahame Coyle, Kate Bonney, Claire Halleran.
(bottom, l-r) Christina Strachan, Rebecca Wilkie, Itxaso Moreno, Shilpa T-Hyland.
Photography by Mihaela Bodlovic.