Make A Change is Solar Bear’s artist bursary scheme. Between 2024 and 2025, five projects were developed.
If you would like to connect with any of the artists/projects, please email – angela@solarbear.org.uk
We hope you enjoy exploring the projects below.
To access the video transcript CLICK HERE
Falling Through the Cracks
This powerful and personal play, written and performed by Andrew Pettigrew, offers a rare, authentic glimpse into life as a young deafblind person in Scotland.
Told with raw honesty, humour, and heart, the story is drawn directly from Andrew’s lived experiences. It explores the everyday barriers, emotional battles, and moments of joy that come with disability—inviting audiences not just to witness a story, but to truly see the world through different perspective.
Next Steps
The project is now seeking producing partners to support its next stage of development, with the goal of touring the production across Scotland. This is a unique opportunity to platform an underrepresented voice and share a powerful, funny, and deeply personal story with new audiences.
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To access the video transcript CLICK HERE
Echoes
Echoes is inspired by Homer’s Iliad, the play reimagines the ancient epic through the eyes of three women, exploring themes of war, loss, and survival from the perspective of those left behind.
Blending timeless storytelling with a bold and contemporary lens, Echoes questions how much has truly changed in 3000 years — and what still resonates today.
Next Steps
The project is currently seeking new partnerships and opportunities for further development, including R&D time with actors, with the long-term goal of producing the play for theatres and young audiences alike. Benny envisions Echoes not only as a compelling piece of theatre but also as a meaningful educational tool.
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To access the video transcript CLICK HERE
The Queer Duckie
The Queer Duckie flips tradition on its head—created by and for the deaf community, packed with fierce humour, vivid characters, and proud defiance. Follow Jane, a dreamer caught in a magical uprising led by a butch fairy and a sad clown, while the mayor plots to dim her spark. With signed jokes that hit queer and deaf identities at the centre, and a mission to shake up British theatre—this is Panto like never before.
Next Steps
Bea and Klarissa are seeking support to write the full script, fund more R&D with a deaf cast, and bring this revolutionary panto to the stage.
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To access the video transcript CLICK HERE
Stuck Together
Written and directed by Irina, this powerful new project explores one woman’s inner and outer worlds as she navigates the space between youth and adulthood. Set entirely in a single house, the story follows two versions of the same woman—one younger, full of dreams and plans, the other older, juggling responsibilities and motherhood. As their realities begin to overlap, the piece dives into questions of identity, womanhood, and self-discovery. Developed with deaf and hearing audiences in mind, the project offers a layered, emotional journey shaped by female empowerment and the unique perspectives of its performers.
Next Steps
Irina is now looking to take the project into its next stage, with further R&D, creative collaborators, and support to realise a full production.
Gallery
To access the video transcript CLICK HERE
Stepping into Technicolour
Created by deaf theatre maker Jamie Rea in collaboration with writer/director Drew Taylor-Wilson. Stepping into Technicolour is a bold new play that follows a Queer character’s journey through life, exploring identity, family, and love. Set on a train carriage, the story delves into themes of belonging, discovery, and the power of chosen family. With accessibility at its heart, the piece is crafted for deaf, hearing, and queer audiences alike.
