Zoo

Untitled design (1).png.gallery.jpg — Zoo

Written by Lily Bevan, 2018.

Written by Lily Bevan
Directed by Hamish Macdougall
Performed by Lily Bevan & Lorna Beckett

Assembly Edinburgh 2018, sell out
Theatre 503, London

A new two hander play by Lily Bevan, performed by Lily Bevan and Lorna Beckett.

A tale of animal instinct, fight or flight and a woman trying to trap 47 flamingos in a urinal.

From the co-writer of Talking to Strangers (BBC Radio 4/ Edinburgh Fringe w/ Sally Phillips) “I doubt there will be anything as seriously funny for years.” - Gillian Reynolds, The Telegraph and writer/performer of Pheasant Plucker (Edinburgh Fringe sell out 2015).

Until today the most dangerous event at the zoo was the Tapir’s emergency caesarian section. But when a hurricane heads straight for Miami, Bonnie hurries to keep her animals safe. Across the world in the Yorkshire dales - Carol feels the repercussions. However, the danger is deeper and darker than the weather.

Bonnie has to face the pain of her past, and awkwardness of her role at the Zoo including relationships with Ian Butterwick giant otter expert (Mike Wozniak) and boss Bill, to face the hurricane and save her beloved animal tribe. Carol - Bonnie's best friend - who she met at a conference in Chester Zoo - lives in North Yorkshire, working with bats. Carol has her own challenges too, her angry ex husband, her silent son Paul, meddling local caving groups and the South Yorkshire bat group. Their friendship helps them both.

This is a story of two complex, funny, awkward women - both in a mire of bosses, exes, hierarchies - both who prefer animals to people, because both need to escape.

An inventive comedy drama of heroism and friendship.

“I like animals because they’re brutal, like they’re really f*** brutal, excuse my cursing. But it’s honest - it’s not hidden, right? It’s humans who lie, who hide things.”

Design by Erica Greenshield
Sound design by Mike Winship
Technical manager: Tom Clutterbuck
Web/poster design: Matt Smith
Stage manager: Eleanor Theodorou
Production assistant - Alice Robinson

Additional voices - Mike Woniak, Jim Rastall, Robert Mountford