BEOWULF VISUAL STORY This visual resource is for children and young adults visiting the

Unicorn Theatre to see a performance of Beowulf.

This visual story is intended to help prepare you for a new experience

and help you to become familiar with the surroundings and the

performance.

The show is performed by one actor recounting Beowulf’s dark,

bloody and difficult journey as she prepares for battle one last time.

The performance contains an immersive metal and electro-infused

live soundtrack with numerous scenes containing very loud music,

flashing lights and dry ice.

The performance is high energy and contains numerous descriptions

of graphic threat, battle and death. These sequences are frequent

but not sustained.

The performance is accompanied by live musical performances. We

have made the usual amendments to the volume and lighting levels

but due to the nature of the show you will experience moments of

startling sound and lighting effects including three moments of

fire via pyrotechnic.

Welcome to the Unicorn Theatre. We are a theatre for children and

adults. This is what the building looks like from the outside.

This is the main entrance of the theatre. There are some steps before

you get to the front door. The words and pictures on the windows tell

you what shows and activities are happening inside.

When you enter through the front door, you will see a big space with

lots of tables and chairs in an area called the Foyer.

There are also some instructions on the floor tiles, you can choose to

follow these instructions or you can ignore them.

The Box Office is also in the Foyer. This is where you can buy tickets or

collect tickets that you have already paid for. There may be other

adults and children waiting to buy or collect tickets when you arrive.

You will be met by one of the Ushers, who will be wearing a dark red

shirt with white writing like the one above.

You can ask an usher if you have any questions and they will do their

best to help you. When it’s time for Beowulf to start, you will hear a

bell and an Usher will tell you where you need to go.

You might see some adults and children sitting at some of the tables

having something to eat or drink from our Unicornershop.

There is a cafe in the Foyer called the Unicornershop where you can

buy drinks and snacks. You can also bring your own drinks and snacks

with you.

If you need to use the Toilet, they are downstairs from the Foyer.

Look for the stairs going down or you can use the Lift.

These are the boys’ toilets.

These are the girls’ toilets.

When you enter the Weston Theatre you will see a raised stage with

smoke drifting across it.

There is a metal structure in the middle of the stage and two big walls

of speakers.

There is a large shape hanging from chains that looks like a crown or

sun made from broken mirror.

You can find your seats and make yourself comfortable. The usher can

help you find your seat.

You will see a musician inside the metal structure who is wearing a

hood and has eyes that glow.

He will play the live music throughout the performance.

He will move around the stage during the show. Sometimes he will

wear a mask made of broken mirror and move to the very front of the

stage.

The music will usually be a bit louder and a bit scarier when he moves

to the front of the stage.

Before the show starts you will hear music and sound effects.

The music is very atmospheric and changes quite a lot.

Sometimes the music can feel a bit scary or strange.

This is Beowulf – She is a warrior and a King.

She will tell you the story of her life and her last battle.

She will sometimes talk directly to you and raise her voice.

She will use a microphone to make her voice even louder or sound a

bit different.

This actor is the only person who speaks during the show.

Sometimes the actor’s voice will get louder when they are pretending

to be angry or upset. You might hear them echo around you.

This is just her voice.

The lighting and sound will change a lot when the different voices

are used.

The lights will also move around the space.

The smoke will continue to fill the room and the three large flame

effects will be very tall and feel quite warm.

You might want to close your eyes when the flames are on stage.

Don’t worry, the flame won’t hurt you.

The flame effects are used at the below points in the

performance.

The burst of flame will come from two areas on the

raised stage.

The actor and musician will not be near the flame

effects.

The flames will fire for approx 3 secs each time.

Approx 48 minutes into the performance

Approx 68 minutes into the performance

Approx 72 minutes into the performance (the last

moment)

When the show begins there will be moving lights on stage but the

lights over your seats will stay on throughout the performance.

Some of the smoke might blow to you in your seats, don’t worry it

won’t harm you.

The actor playing Beowulf will enter through lots of smoke and walk

to the front of the stage.

The actor will tell you about her life and world she lives in.

You will hear sound effects of rumbling like thunder, the music will

be louder and the lights will move.

The actor will tell you about the Northland; this is where Beowulf is

from.

When the actor is telling you about the Northland she will climb to

the top of the structure.

The actor has a knife because Beowulf is a warrior.

The actor will point the knife towards the audience sometimes.

Don’t worry, she is just telling you a story.

Beowulf will tell you about her bravery and how she defeats Grendel.

Grendel is a dragon.

You will not see anything that looks like a dragon.

When Grendel is mentioned the stage might get darker or brighter

and the musician will play louder music and move towards the front

of the stage.

The actor will tell you about a place called Heorot.

You will see a sign on the metal structure that says Heorot.

Heorot was a great hall built to house the treasures from the Danes’

victories and celebrate warriors.

The stage will move around and make the shape of a roof and walls

with lights and the speakers.

Beowulf will tell you that the dragon called Grendel has been

attacking Heorot and she wants to help.

She will describe battles and the dragon.

It will be a graphic description of skin and teeth and blood.

You won’t see any of these things, you will just hear about them.

When the actor is telling the story she will pretend to be other

characters and use a different voice.

When she is pretending to be a warrior called Unferth she will use a

microphone.

Beowulf will sing and shout about the great battle with the dragon.

The music will be much louder and she will sing and scream.

The actor playing Beowulf will be quiet and sad when she is

remembering Unferth dying.

The stage will be much darker.

You can feel sad, that’s okay.

When Beowulf meets the dragon’s mother she will be raised up on a

piece of stage that is very high.

The actor will be close to the crown made of broken mirror.

When the actor tells you about killing the dragon’s mother she will

reach her hand into the crown and you might see some red blood run

down her arm or be wiped across her white t-shirt.

Don’t worry, this isn’t real blood.

Beowulf will ask you at the end of the performance if you think she

was a good king. You can respond if you like.

After the last flame effect the stage will get darker and the actor will

be moving back down from the raised stage.

The musician will be at the front of the stage playing the guitar.

They will both move for you to clap.

You can clap if you want to.

This is the end of the show.

During the show you might find something funny, you can laugh if you

like.

During the show you might see or hear something that makes you feel

sad. You can feel sad if you like, that’s okay.

You might hear other people in the audience cheer, clap, shout out or

scream. You can join in if you like.

During the show you might feel that you need to take some time out.

If you do don’t worry about it, find an Usher and let them know. They

will take you to the chill out space where you can relax and return to

the show when you feel ready.