Moving look at relationships between humans and animals

A funny and poignant look at love and communication in human (and not so human) relationships – Like Animals – will be staged at the Macrobert this spring.

Newly announced National Theatre of Scotland Company in Residence SUPERFAN have included the venue in a tour of Scotland from April 4 to May 1 next year.

Directed by Herald Angel Award winner Ellie Dubois (No Show) and inspired by true accounts of research scientists working to communicate with animals, it weaves stories of human-animal communication around an exploration into the real-life relationship of performers Kim Donohoe and Pete Lannon.

Every night, Alex the parrot and Irene the scientist bid one another farewell with ‘be good, see you tomorrow, I love you.’

As time marches on and their relationship deepens, Alex begins to use the language he has learned from Irene to manipulate her.

Peter the dolphin lives in a flooded house with Margaret, who is teaching him English.

Delving into the research, Kim and Pete tell these stories with only a paddling pool and a couple of wetsuits.

MJ McCarthy’s delicate score and Rachel O’Neill’s surreal, contemporary design draws audiences into the joy and heartbreak of trying, and sometimes failing, to understand another being.

Like Animals has been developed in association with Tron CREATIVE through their Scratch and Tron Lab opportunities, and with support from Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund.

SUPERFAN is a new Scottish performance company who create performances for adult and young audiences that blend theatre, live art, circus and dance. SUPERFAN won the 2019 Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award.

Like Animals is at the Macrobert on Friday April 24.