AWARD-winning visual theatre company Tortoise in a Nutshell returns to the Richard Whiteley Theatre in Giggleswick next week with their new production Fisk.

Renowned for their imaginative use of puppetry, sound and light, the Edinburgh-based company have won a First Fringe Award and have had a long-term association with Puppet Animation Scotland with whom they premiered Fisk at the 2017 Manipulate Festival.

Whilst Tortoises’ work can be described as ‘visual theatre’, their restless and dynamic approach to performance has ensured that each of their productions has adapted different approaches, making their style hard to pin down.

Fisk is a story of a man and a fish, and the unexpected impact they have upon one another.

“We started out just with an image of a man on a boat and a fish,” said artistic director Ross MacKay.

“We didn’t have any preconceptions of the theme. But as we continued to explore the piece we realised that time and again the imagery drew parallels to depression. Rather than run from that, we decided to go for it.”

However, the theatre company has also incorporated many new elements.

“One of the biggest departures here was working with an incredible movement director, Darren Brownlie,” said Mr MacKay.

“We have never worked so expressively with our bodies. Usually the performance is left to the puppets!’

Fisk addresses some serious issues – depression and recovery – yet the physical performances lend the show an epic, poetic resonance to provide something both heartfelt and symbolic.

Fisk will be staged at the Richard Whiteley Theatre on Thursday, February 8, at 7.30pm.

This marks a change from the previously advertised date of Monday, February 19.

For more information and tickets visit giggleswick.org.uk/rwt or call 01729 893180.