SHŌ AND THE DEMONS OF THE DEEP

Toured Scotland Spring 2024, including the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival.
Produced by Independent Arts Projects in association with the National Theatre of Scotland

★★★★ ~ The Quintessential Review
“A hugely likeable, and ambitious production”
★★★★ ~ The Reviews Hub
“An intimately clever script”
★★★★ ~ Across the Arts
“Much to enjoy”
★★★★ ~ Corr Blimey
“A show which seeks to demonstrate the power of dreams, even broken, and encourages younger audiences not to hide and bury nightmares, but to open up and communicate with one another in this delightfully creative and warming show that threads together so much with canny skill and a dreamy glow.”

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.

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.