Shay Mace
Content Warning: Discussion of male violence against women, murder, and hate crime.
Developed through first-hand accounts form those who have experienced and survived male violence, Man or Bear arises from the titular question – would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear? Blending ‘kitchen sink realism’, music and physical sequences, it follows three generations of women in the lead up to an act of violence, allowing their voices to take centre-stage. We caught up with co-creators, performer Katie Hurley and playwright Sarah Hehir, to explore their process in bringing this prescient and resonant story to the stage at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe next month.
You can catch Man or Bear at Red Lecture Theatre at Summerhall on August 6th – 30th (not the 17th or 24th) from 13:45 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Shay: Hi Katie & Sarah, tell us about why you were inspired to create a show about male violence against women and why you have decided to bring this to the stage now?
Katie: Sarah and I have always been drawn to making work about the things that make us angry, and the epidemic of violence against women and girls is something that has infuriated us for a long time. Before we even started making the show, we found ourselves constantly sharing news stories about violence against women. It felt relentless, and we kept coming back to the same question: how can this still be happening?
We felt compelled to make this show now because violence against women and girls has finally been recognised as a national emergency. At the same time, we were struck by how often stories about murdered women become stories about the men who killed them. We wanted to shift that focus and tell the story from the perspective of the women left living with fear – to remember that the women were someone’s daughter, someone’s mother, someone’s friend. We wanted to centre their voices.
Shay: How has the creative process been of putting the show together? Give us an idea of the journey you’ve been on with it so far.
K&S: We started by running workshops with women and girls across Croydon and Medway (where myself and Sarah are from) exploring everything from what a utopian future for women might look like to the unhelpful stereotypes like virgin, mother, crone, whore, and how those narratives shape our lives.
From there, we brought other artists into the process, experimenting with movement, sound and design while Sarah and I gradually built the script between each R&D. It was really important to us that the workshop participants were invited back at each stage of the process to feedback on the work and help shape the next phase.
Our brilliant director, Ursula Martinez, came on board later in the process and when we started staging the piece, everything clicked into place. We’d always imagined a play that combined gritty, kitchen-sink realism with more abstract theatrical moments, and we feel we’ve managed to create something that balances those two worlds beautifully.
Shay: What will be the first thing the audience sees, feels, and hears as they enter the space?
K&S: As audiences enter they’ll see three microphones, some chairs and boxes and hear music playing. The three performers then walk into the space and begin the prologue which foreshadows a death. We hope the first feeling is curiosity, we don’t want to reveal too much too soon, but instead invite audiences to lean in and discover who these women are.
Shay: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
K&S: More than anything, we hope audiences fall in love with these three women. Although the play tackles difficult themes, it’s ultimately about friendship, humour, resilience and survival. We also hope audiences leave with a greater understanding of the many forms violence against women and girls can take, from everyday microaggressions and coercive control to the most extreme acts of violence, and feel more confident recognising those patterns and talking about them.
Shay: What journey has the show been on to find itself at EdFringe 2026?
Katie: We always knew we wanted Man or Bear to have its world premiere at EdFringe.
Sarah and I have a bit of unfinished business with Edinburgh. Back in 2016, we took another all-female three-hander, Zero Down, to the Pleasance. It was honestly one of the best months of my life. The show was really well received and we had an incredible experience, but we were also very green. We’d never produced a show before, and there was so much we didn’t know.
We’ve spent the last decade learning, growing and making work, both individually and together, always hoping we’d get the chance to come back. Now that it’s finally around the corner, it still doesn’t quite feel real. We’ve worked incredibly hard to get here, and we can’t wait to finally share it with audiences.
Shay: With EdFringe now just around the corner, what are you most excited for?
Katie: I honestly just can’t wait to do the show every day. We’re at Summerhall this year, which, as an actor, is a venue I’ve always wanted to perform at, so that feels pretty special.
I also just love Edinburgh. Yes, it’s financially challenging and completely exhausting, but there’s nowhere quite like it. For all its flaws, I still think it’s pretty magical.
Shay: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
K&S: An Espresso Martini. It’s dark, sharp and has a kick to it, but also surprisingly funny. Hopefully it leaves the audience energised, talking long after it’s finished, and maybe a little unable to sleep while they process what they’ve seen.
A reminder, you can catch Man or Bear at Red Lecture Theatre at Summerhall on August 6th – 30th (not the 17th or 24th) from 13:45 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Dennis Elkins
