Ragnarok (2019-2026)
Venue: Scottish Tour
Company: Tortoise in a Nutshell and Figurteatret i Nordland in association with Macrobert Arts Centre
Director (2024): Alex Bird
Director (2019): Ross Mackay and Arran Howie
Designer: Arran Howie
Composer: Jim Harbourne
Dramaturg: Nicola McCartney
Assistant Artist: Melanie Francis
Production Manager (2026): Grahame Coyle
Production Manager (2024): Elle Taylor
Production Manager (2019): Fiona Fraser
Technical Manager (2024/2026): Josh Brown
Technical Manager (2019): Andy Gannon
Photographer: Mihaela Bodlovic
Ragnarok was originally made in 2019 at Figurteatret i Nordland. It was revived for a Scottish Tour in 2024, for which won a Profile Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre Lighting, and a CATS Award for Best Technical Presentation. It was invited to play the 31st International Festival of Puppetry Art in Bielsko-Biala, Poland in 2026, and staged a showcase performance at Edinburgh Festival Theatre.
Press Quotes
a modern oratorio in sound and vision, that breaks the heart, and challenges the conscience.
Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman
Simon Wilkinson’s precise lighting is intrinsic to the success of the whole production
Thom Dibdin, All Edinburgh Theatre
Howie’s design and Simon Wilkinson’s lighting are painstakingly supported by composer Harbourne’s live music, singing and pre-recorded narrative cues. It’s a unique piece, built around superlative visuals and choreography
David Pollock, The Stage
Dry mist and clever lighting also play key roles [….] a micro camera surveys fluorescent rubble, looming, glowing huge on the projection screen before alternately cutting to stick figures with flesh flailing, […] Picasso’s Guernica made flesh.
Greg Holstead, North West End
Ragnarok is, surely, one of the most original, technically accomplished and brilliantly realised pieces of theatre to be created for the Scottish stage in recent times."
Mark Brown, The Sunday National
Visually, Ragnarok is a marvel [ … ] sheer technical mastery.
Isy Santini, The List
a deeply moving story of despair and hope, of human power at the mercy of greater forces, told with unforgiving clarity through image and sound, and delivered with enormous restraint and subtlety.
David Kettle, The Arts Desk
A form-defining production
Dominic Corr, Corr Blimey
