The ‘Did You Know?’ series is our way of celebrating the stories, people and places that make our work special — and shining a light on the things we’re proud of. This time, we’re heading off to lands far away… Did you know that Visible Fictions has taken stories from Scotland to stages around the world? 

We love sharing our work with audiences close to home, but we’re also delighted to bring our inventive, heartfelt, and theatrical stories to international festivals, theatres, libraries and schools. Whether it’s a puppet catching an air balloon somewhere in Asia, a mystery unravelling in a Canadian library, or a surprising object plopping out of someone’s ear in New York — our shows have found enthusiastic audiences far beyond our borders. 

SINGAPORE

In 2019, A Ladder to the Stars lit up Octoburst! at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Our favourite puppet, Olive and crew, brought A Ladder to the Stars to Southeast Asia for a magical run at a children’s festival that encourages artful play and fun for all.

CANADA

The Hidden, our mystery-in-the-library for teens and families, had its Canadian premiere in 2022 as part of TIFA Kids and the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival. Team VF led audiences through an immersive puzzle experience in Toronto’s Brampton Library.

MALTA

In November 2023, Olive the puppet was airborne again — this time heading to the ŻiguŻajg International Arts Festival. Olive, along with actors Stacey Mitchell and Nicholas Halliwell, brought joy and starlight to young audiences in Valletta.

NEW YORK CITY

In early 2024, Clunk! was showcased at APAP|NYC, one of the world’s biggest arts industry gatherings. Creatives Dougie Irvine and Ewan Somers took to the stage to share this funny, moving story about family, loss and an unexpected object falling out of someone’s ear. 

However, Clunk! is not our only show to make it to the Big Apple; we will forever be excited over the fact that with Red Balloon, one of Visible Fictions’ first-ever productions, we became the first Scottish company to perform on Broadway. 

NORTH AMERICA

And let’s not forget our many North American adventures! Between 2008 and 2016, several Visible Fictions productions crossed the Atlantic. From the clever comedy of Shopping for Shoes in 2008, to the swashbuckling tales of Zorro (2012–13) and the legendary Robin Hood (2014–16). Visible Fictions visited bustling cities and many vibrant theatres, each place leaving its mark on our journey.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

The one that toured extensively for over a decade, from Malvern, Pennsylvania, to the sun and the stage in Sydney, Australia: Jason and the Argonauts, a quirky, funny, epic tale, told as only Visible Fictions knows how.

STORIES STILL TO COME

Whether we’re on a main stage or in a small community setting, it truly is a joy to connect with new audiences, build global partnerships, and share the stories we love. Here’s to wherever the next journey takes us. ✨