About Us
The Occasion exists to create live theatre that will entertain, challenge, surprise and – above all else – excite audiences.
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).
The Occasion’s reputation is built on the production of:
- Innovative touring theatre, playing to audiences throughout the UK and internationally:
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.
Stewart Ennis’ captivating script sparkles, weaving the contemporary with the classical… Catherine Gillard delivers a tour de force performance as Mary. Highly recommended.
- High quality, ground-breaking, large-scale community performance projects that prioritise work with learning-disabled adults. The Occasion’s ‘Southside Group’ project, begun in February 2020 has, already, made a significant contribution to inclusive arts in Scotland:
This is one of the best pieces of theatre I have seen for some time. As a piece of theatre, it engaged all the trickery it could muster as well as making sure we got the personalities and the beauty of performing for an audience. That audience, full for the first night, rose from their seats at the end, not just because they have seen these actors develop over time and know the struggles they have faced as they have been alongside them, but also because they saw a shining example of how art can develop and support, enhance and promote, give and take the work and show it off with such deft skill.
In the shadow of the latest CATS awards which did highlight the work of disabled artists, this would rank up there in terms of both process and performance – for disabled arts to thrive and flourish it needs depth. It needs more and not less. This is just a perfect example of why.
A strikingly well-made show that succeeds in transporting us not only to the Glasgow of 75 years ago, but also into a world of joyful ensemble work that lifts the heart, and inspires as much as it entertains.
The Occasion’s work relies on a team of highly-experienced, international artists, working alongside the company’s Co-Artistic Directors. All have extensive experience in creating brilliantly innovative touring work and ground-breaking, fully inclusive, community performance.
The Occasion is fully committed to widening access and participation in the arts and also working with artists who share our theatrical style and keep our own work refreshed.
We are always open to new influences in order to develop and stretch the company artistically.
We hope that you will join us in our adventure.
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 2022 annual report, 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.
