Man or Bear

Man or Bear plays at the Brighton Dome on Wednesday 7 October, in the Studio Theatre on Church Street. It's a new play presented by Katie Hurley and Sarah Hehir in association with Croydonites, with Ursula Martinez as director and dramaturg.

The title comes from that viral question that went around a while back — Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear? — which sparked a global conversation about safety and trust. The play takes that as its starting point and builds it into a fast-moving, darkly comic story about fear, friendship and survival. It follows a mother and her teenage daughter who seek refuge with a stranger, and then there's the bear. The production blends kitchen-sink realism with movement and music, and it looks at the stories women tell, the friendships they forge and the resilience they summon to survive in an increasingly dangerous world.

It's worth knowing what you're signing up for before you book, as it doesn't shy away from the heavy stuff. The show contains strong language and references to sexual violence, coercive control, domestic abuse, stalking, self-harm, suicide threats, bereavement, femicide and animal cruelty, and it's recommended for ages 16 and over.

Tickets are £20, with £18 concessions and a limited number of £10 low-income concessions. Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival members save £2 on full-price tickets. The performance starts at 20:00, with doors opening at 19:15.