There’s a Bear on My Chair will come to life live on stage in early 2025…
First published by Nosy Crow, Ross Collins’ award-winning children’s book has been adapted for the stage and featuring loveable life-sized puppetry by Toby Olié.
Poor Mouse! A Bear has settled in his favourite chair and it just isn’t big enough to share. Mouse tries all kinds of tactics to move the pesky Bear but nothing seems to work. However, it isn’t long until the tables are turned and Bear finds himself with an unwelcome guest – the cheeky Mouse won’t leave his house!
There’s a Bear on My Chair will receive its world premiere at the Queen Elizabeth Hall as one of the headline events in Southbank Centre’s flagship Imagine Festival, the UK’s leading arts festival for children aged 0-11 and their grown-ups early next year.
Toby Olié:
“I have been a huge fan of Ross Collins’ work since collaborating to bring his book The Elephantom to the stage in 2013. Ross’ books feature a unique combination of humour and nuance that appeals to audiences of all ages, something that I strive for in every show I make. So I am honoured to get the chance to bring Ross’ most popular book and its two unlikely rivals to the stage for the very first time. It’s going to be equal parts funny and playful, with just the right amount of mayhem!”
Announced this week, the cast includes Ailsa Dalling, Olivier Award-winner Fred Davis, Elisa de Grey and Ben Thompson.
The stage adaptation comes as Nosy Crow, who first published the book in 2015, celebrate 10 years of There’s a Bear on My Chair with a special anniversary edition of the best-selling, award-winning book. This book is part of a hugely successful series, which has sold over 112K copies (Nielsen BookScan UK). Available in bookshops and online from February 2025, this joyous edition features a shimmering blue and gold foil cover, marking this fantastically funny rhyming picture book as a true classic, perfect for old and new Mouse and Bear fans alike.
There’s a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins Dates
Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Part of Imagine Festival playing from 18th to 23rd February 2025.
southbankcentre.co.uk
The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath, staged from 27th February to 2nd March 2025.
theatreroyal.org.uk