Hercules the Bear takes to the stage in new Scottish tour

The true story of Hercules the Bear is coming to the stage this autumn.

A production by Tenterhooks will tour Scotland from September 27 to October 29, bringing the remarkable story of the ten-foot grizzly bear to a new generation.

Hercules was raised by Andy and Maggie Robin in Sheriffmuir, Stirlingshire, after the couple bought him for £50 from Kingussie’s Highland Wildlife Park in the 1980s.

Trained to wrestle alongside Andy, the bear became a national sensation after escaping during a Kleenex advert shoot on Benbecula, sparking a 24-day search that gripped the country.

The show follows Hercules’ rise from the wrestling ring to global fame, including TV appearances, documentaries, and a cameo alongside James Bond.

Artist and designer Fergus Dunnet leads the creative team, while Ben Winger and Diane Thornton star as Andy and Maggie Robin. Suzie Ferguson performs as Hercules through lifelike puppetry.

Although Andy Robin died in 2019, Maggie remains closely involved and will appear in Ayr on Saturday, September 27, to share memories of her “gentle giant.”

Maggie said: “I’m so excited that the story of Hercules – and Andy and I – will be told on stage for the first time.

“Our time with Hercules was so precious, so it’s just a pleasure to get to relive it once again. The show Tenterhooks has created is such a great tribute to our special bear for so many reasons, but perhaps most notably because the Hercules puppets are so lifelike!

“I’m so thrilled to be involved with the tour and can’t wait for Hercules to meet audiences the length and breadth of Scotland once again.”

The show premiered to sold-out audiences on North Uist last year and now tours with support from the Creative Scotland Touring Fund.

The tour opens in Ayr, before visiting Edinburgh, Dunkeld, Cumbernauld, Crieff, New Galloway, Paisley, Glasgow, North Uist, Stornoway, Inverness, Cromarty, Banchory, Aberdeen, Dunblane, and ending in Auchterarder on October 29.

Tenterhooks said: “It’s such a joy to be bringing the story of Hercules, Andy, and Maggie to Scottish stages – and we’re so pleased to have Maggie’s blessing and for her to join us at various points throughout the tour.

“Hercules is truly a contemporary Scottish folk hero, so it’s a real honour to be able to introduce him to a whole new generation across the country. We can’t wait to get started.”