Wonder Fools

I have worked with Wonder Fools over the past four years as their Head of Marketing & Communications working on marketing strategies for productions, projects, events and touring shows. I have also helped develop the company’s profile in Scotland and Internationally as well as increasing their online presence. Since 2021, I have increased the company’s social media following by 72% across all platforms, building a core and engaging audience. Below are some of the campaigns I have managed for Wonder Fools.

THE KELTON HILL FAIR (2025)

by Jack Nurse & Robbie Gordon – Wonder Fools in association with D&G Arts Live

Join Flora on her adventure and encounter unforgettable figures from Scotland’s past including the extraordinary Billy Marshall, who across his lifetime participated in pivotal moments that shaped our history. An unmissable new theatrical experience that will not only thrill audiences with its storytelling but also offer a profound exploration of contemporary Scotland, as seen through the eyes of the nation’s folklore and legends.

Touring March 2025

Theatre Royal Dumfries (21-22 March 2025)

Tron Theatre (25-29 March 2025)

THE EVENTS (2024)

by David Greig – Cumbernauld Theatre in association with Wonder Fools

When Claire, a priest, survives a mass shooting she sets out on a quest to answer the most difficult question of all: ‘Why?’. The Events is a journey that takes her to the edge of reason, science, politics and faith. This is a thrilling, theatrical and visceral new staging of David Greig’s modern classic. It featured an exciting collaboration between the professional cast and a Community Choir that has been specially created for this production.

6

school and youth groups attended

804

audience members

★★★★ “Demands to be seen” – The Stage

★★★★ “Heartfelt and haunting” – The Scotsman

★★★★ “Wonderful performances” – The Herald

THE BUNKER (2024)

by Robbie Gordon & Jack Nurse – Ayr Gaiety

The Bunker is a compelling comedy musical reflecting on our diverse experiences of lockdown. This new co-production by Ayr Gaiety and Wonder Fools is commissioned by Greenspace as part of the Covid memorial project Remembering Together.

Created in collaboration with the local community, this original production is a laugh out loud jukebox musical with songs we all know and love from artists such as The Clash, Rod Stewart and Dua Lipa, played live by a professional cast joined onstage by 50 community performers. One night only.

50

community performers

376

audience members

ÒRAN (2024)

by Owen Sutcliffe – Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024

Combining spoken word, lyrical storytelling and a pulsating electronic live score, this is the thrilling story of Òran and his journey to rescue his best friend from the Underworld. Should he arrive, Hades might grant him the chance to lead his friend home…but at what cost?

This visceral piece of contemporary theatre is a collaboration between Wonder Fools, ‘one of Scotland’s most exciting new companies’ (Scotsman) and the acclaimed hip-hop artist Owen Sutcliffe in partnership with Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Pleasance Theatre with music by VanIves, creating an urgent, entertaining, modern retelling of the classic Greek myth Orpheus.

1

award

18

sold-out performances

1,347

audience members

Òran premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024 and won The Skinny and Fest Mags Best Debut Award at The Besties Awards. Òran also played The Pleasance in London for three nights.

New Year, New Work (2024)

by Wonder Fools, CRPNTR, Leyla Josephine, Nikhita & Queen of Harps – Event

The return of New Year, New Work hosted by Wonder Fools. We shared a new scratch performance of our newest piece – Òran by Owen Sutcliffe, a contemporary adaptation of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth with an electric new score by regular collaborators VanIves.

5

performances

100

audience members

Managed the promotion of the event via social media, print distribution and email marketing resulting in successfully selling out the event.

New Year, New Work (2024)

by Wonder Fools, Imogen Stirling + Susan Bear, India Blue, VanIves and Tues. – Event

New Year, New Work is a night of exciting new music and theatre hosted by Wonder Fools. We shared a scratch performance of our newest piece – Òran by Owen Sutcliffe, a contemporary adaptation of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth with an electric new score by regular collaborators VanIves.

2

twice sold out

110

audience members

5

performances

Managed the promotion of the event via social media, print distribution and email marketing resulting in successfully selling out the event twice and moving the event to a bigger venue to accommodate more people.

Positive Stories festival (2023)

by Wonder Fools – Youth Festival (National Scottish Tour)

Season Three saw the creation of the Positive Stories Festivals; four two-day festivals happening across Scotland with partner venues Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh), Ayr Gaiety, Eden Court (Inverness), and Perth Theatre. These were delivered in association with Youth Theatre Arts Scotland.

22

live performances

4

festivals

1445

audience members

322

young participants

549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War (2022)

by Robbie Gordon & Jack Nurse – National Scottish Tour

549 is a play with songs telling the true stories of four men from Prestonpans that went to fight in the Spanish Civil War, one of Scotland’s almost forgotten conflicts. Co-created over 7 years, the production was born out of conversations in pubs, living rooms and cafes in Prestonpans with family members of the 549 wishing to tell the incredible story of their ancestors.

12

sold out shows

21

live performances

“This play doesn’t just want us to remember and respect our history, it’s a call to arms and a timely reminder to always fight for what you believe in.” — ★★★★ Reviews Hub

“549 is a beautifully moving tale of friendship, bravery and sacrifice…It is truly not to be missed.” – ★★★★ The Skinny

And Then Come the Nightjars (2022)

by Bea Roberts – The Fullarton, Castle Douglas

A play by Bea Roberts produced in with Crossmichael Drama Club exploring the foot and mouth crisis of 2001 and its effects on the community of Dumfries and Galloway. Accompanied by a digital archive.

303

audience members in a rural venue midway through emerging from the pandemic

4

performances

Positive Stories for Negative Times (2022 – 2024)

by Wonder Fools – International participatory project

Positive Stories for Negative Times is produced by Wonder Fools in association with the Traverse Theatre. The project so far has commissioned 16 new plays including those by Tim Crouch, Bryony Kimmings, Stef Smith, Sabrina Mahfouz, Douglas Maxwell, Chris Thorpe and many more.

Find out more about the project: positvestories.scot.

11,000

young participants

24

countries

786

groups

THE LOST ELVES (2021)

Directed by Jack Nurse – Ayr Gaiety in association with Wonder Fools

It’s almost Christmas but the Elves have crashed landed! The Elves have accidentally stolen Santa’s sleigh and are lost far from home. They need to get back to the North Pole in time to give Santa his sleigh back or there will be no Christmas.

Artwork by Serden Salih