About Us

The Occasion exists to create live theatre that will entertain, challenge, surprise and – above all else – excite audiences.

The Occasion Theatre

The Occasion was founded in 2010 by Peter Clerke and Catherine Gillard. Previous to this they had both shared the Artistic Directorship of the Scottish touring theatre company, benchtours (1991 – 2009).

I loved this, have told plenty of people all about it and would thoroughly recommend you take your creatively critical eye and go and learn what it is like to emerge from lockdown with your art intact.

- Donald Stewart, The Fringe Review, on The Southside Groups’ Peabody Chronicles

The idea is so vivid – timely, disturbing, and so well worked out in the best of Clancy’s writing – that the show is impossible to resist, and it slices down to the hidden reality of the way we live now, in a way that makes the rest of our theatrical world seem pallid, and a little short of the courage it takes to face a terrible truth.

- Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman, on ‘Apocalypse’

Stewart Ennis’ captivating script sparkles, weaving the contemporary with the classical… Catherine Gillard delivers a tour de force performance as Mary. Highly recommended.

- The Reviews Hub on ‘The Monster and Mary Shelley’

The scenes flowed beautifully and the actors were clearly enjoying every scene. It was so uplifting and moving at the same time. Struck by how nothing is beyond the realms of possibility, absolutely wonderful, and what a privilege to see this.

- Audience member on ‘Around The World in 80 Days’

With extensive experience in creating brilliantly innovative touring work and ground-breaking, fully inclusive, community performance The Occasion’s artistic programme focuses on:

The Occasion is fully committed to widening access and participation in the arts, to working with artists who share our theatrical style and to keep our own work refreshed. We are aware of the need to be open to new influences in order to develop and stretch the company artistically.

We hope that you will join us.

To read The Southside Group case studies, please click here.

To read our year ending December 2022 accounts, please click here.

To read our year ending December 2021 accounts, please click here.

To read our year ending December 2020 accounts, please click here.

To see a copy of our 2021 annual report, please click here.

To see a copy of our 2020 annual report, please click here.

To see a copy of our 2019 annual report, please click here.

To see a copy of our 2018 annual report, please click here.

The Occasion Theatre
the occasion – exciting and entertaining; challenging and deliciously different. Dynamic touring and innovative community projects.



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