The Polar Bears first came to life in May 2010 as a commission for the very first Family Days for the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival (then known as Imaginate Festival). With fur coats, bobble hats, rucksacks and maps, the two slightly confused and lost bears interacted with children in the Traverse foyer, entertaining audiences between shows. Over the next few years the characters developed through walkabout performances at family events, festivals, a fun run, and even a Geography Association Dinner in Guildford… In the early years we were supported by Imaginate, Platform and Macrobert Arts Centre   who produced our first full-length, sit-down show, The Polar Bears Go Wild! in 2013. Go Wild! toured nurseries and theatres in 2013-15 including dates and runs at Traverse Theatre and Take Off! Festival.

In 2016 came The Polar Bears Go Up! – a co-production between Polar Bears and Unicorn – London’s great theatre dedicated to performance work for children and young people. It was originally supported by Creative Scotland, was part of the Made In Scotland showcase in 2017 and has gone on to tour internationally: It has been taken on by China’s A.S.K. – Arts Space For Kids – with runs in Shanghai, Beijing and Zhengzhou. It’s visited North America four times, firstly as people’s favourite runners up at the IPAY showcase in 2018 before visiting venues in Ontario, Nashville, Buffalo, Vancouver International Children’s Festival, as well as the prestigious Lincoln Center, New York. It’s been seen by audiences in Hong Kong at the city’s Cultural Centre, and the furthest from home was the presentation at the Awesome Festival in Perth, Australia (although they’ve also done a Christmas run in #Perthfect Perth, Scotland!)

Their latest stage show, the biggest and brightest yet, was The Polar Bears Go Go Go! co-produced again by Unicorn, which premiered in April 2019. It was the winner of the prestigious OFFIES! award fo best production for young people aged 0-7. It was supported by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund to visit venues in Scotland in 2022.