Supported by
STORM has planted 100 trees with
“TREES FOR LIFE”
Vision Mechanics started a Grove of trees in the Caledonian Forest to mark the STORM project. These trees hold all our promises to tackle climate change and re-wild Scotland. Thousands of families witnessed our Sea Goddess’s journey. Join us and together we can plant trees and watch them grow into a beautiful forest. A hope of a better future for our children.
STORM Across Scotland
Dates will be listed here once they have been announced.
Because of COVID19 restrictions many of our events will require pre-registration. There will be limits on the numbers of tickets available, these limits will have been set following negotiations with the Local Authority and Police Scotland. Exact details of those STORM events will only be given to those who have registered for a ticket.
STORM’s appearances are being live streamed right here and via social media channels – links will be listed nearer the time.
STORM’s Upcoming Appearances
STORM’s Previous Appearances
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Preview 3
East Fortune
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Preview 4
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Preview 5
North Berwick
Alloa
Anstruther, Fife
Burghead
Nairn
Dundee
Irvine
Wick
Dumfries
Oban
Edinburgh
Falkirk
COP26 in Glasgow
Barnsley Bright Nights
About STORM
STORM, a ten metre tall goddess of the sea, has emerged from the deep to encourage us all to celebrate our seas, care for our coastlines and empower us all to put the environment first.
Two years in the making, STORM is a new feat of mechanical mastery created in response to the climate crisis by the formidable puppeteering duo Symon Macintyre and Kim Bergsagel.
Made from entirely recycled materials, STORM’s eyes are the colour of oyster shells, her hair thick strands of kelp, her voice the chorus of the waves. Aided by eight puppeteers, STORM will walk the streets of Scotland. She began her journey as part of Celtic Connections’ inaugural Coastal Connections Day in January 2020, as one of the first events to mark Scotland’s official year of Coasts and Waters 2020. Now, following a break as a result of the pandemic, STORM is due to walk again in late summer and autumn 2021.
STORM is our most ambitious, challenging, and politically resonant project yet, and we are so thrilled to introduce you to her.
What is STORM?
STORM is a ten-metre tall puppet, a goddess of the sea, made entirely out of recycled and natural materials. STORM will walk the streets of Scotland, encouraging us all to celebrate our seas, encourage care for our coastlines and empower us all to put the environment first.
What COVID19 Measures will be in place at a STORM event?
At each appearance Vision Mechanics will have negotiated with the Police and the Local Authority and will be operating in line with the relevant local and national guidelines. Specific local information will be available on the local event pages.
Where can I see STORM?
Details of each STORM appearance can be found on our Follow STORM page.
Will I need to buy a ticket to see STORM?
STORM appearances are free to attend. Please check the Follow STORM page to see if there are any registration requirements for a specific appearance. STORM will often be hosted by a partner event/festival who will have tickets on sale for a range of fabulous cultural events, some of which may be directly associated with STORM.
Will there be public toilets available for STORM appearances?
STORM will not normally provide additional public amenities, and will be scheduled to appear in city centres/town centres close to nearby public amenities. We will be appearing in cooperation with local businesses and local authorities.
Is STORM suitable for all ages?
STORM is a family friendly outdoor spectacle, who will encourage children and adults alike to celebrate our seas, encourage care for our coastlines and empower us all to put the environment first.A handy comic book is available to help with sharing the story with the audience.
Will STORM take place if the weather is bad?
STORM will only be cancelled in the event of high winds or in the event of a Met Office weather warning for the area that we are appearing in. In the event of a cancellation, announcements will be made via our social media channels and on the website.
How do I get to a STORM appearance?
STORM is all about reducing our negative environmental impacts – so we are encouraging our audiences to walk, cycle or make use of public transport to come to see her (though we understand that this isn’t possible for everyone). Please check on each event page to see specific information relating to nearby walking and cycling routes, public transport and disabled parking facilities.
Who has made STORM?
STORM was conceived and created by the team at Vision Mechanics.
Who has funded STORM?
STORM has received national level funding from the National Lottery (via Creative Scotland), Arts and Business Scotland and Event Scotland. A.T. Best Handlers have kindly sponsored the year long production with the free hire of the Manitou telehandler (big red tractor) that drives the puppet as she walks.
Locally STORM will have received additional funding to bring her to each area this will be detailed on each of the local event pages.
Office Team
Symon Macintyre – Artistic Director
Tom Watton – Project & Production Manager
Catriona Smith – Administrative Assistance
Susan Wilson – Financial Administrator
Kim Bergsagel – Creative Director (Lead designer)
Artistic Team
Sara Best – Lead Willower
Dave Barfoot – Lead Fabricator
Ingrid Scholes – Costumier
Tom Caine – Lighting Technician
Alice Knight – Maker
Koren Dumbleton – Maker
Joseph Seal – Sound Mixer and Assistant Stage Manager
Mairi Campbell – Music and Soundscape Composition
David Gray – Music and Soundscape Composition
Gregg Dobson – Consultant Engineer (pre-fabrication)
Cameron Phair – Second Assistant Stage Manager
Volunteer Makers
Amy Shek
Fibi Cowley
Helen Bradburn
Monika Wolf Murray
Puppeteers 2021 tour
Lead Puppeteer
Kim Bergsagel
Puppeteers
Alice Knight
Catriona Smith
Dave Barfoot
Emma Reid
Ewan Macintyre
Jessica Innes
Lisette Boxman
Marie Williamson
Craig Sutherland
Nikoletta Louca
Rosamund McCormack
Rachael Macintyre
Production Team 2021 tour
Charles Macintyre – Stage Manager
Russell McMahon – COVID Officer
Tom Watton – Production and Event Manager
Vision Mechanics Board of Trustees
Adrian Barber
Maddy Berg
Isobel Gray
Anne Fleming
Helen Milne
Caroline Lyon
Richard Thomas
Tom Watton
Marketing and Communications Team
Colin Purves (It’s Alive Design)- Website, Animation and Video
Emma Westwater – Marketing Designs
Ray Kane – Videographer
Lorna Simpson – Videographer
StoryTelling PR – Marketing and Communications
Loukia Kattis (Comic Book/Program Design)
With Special Thanks to
Shona, and the wonderful people at Nutscene, Forfar
Students and Staff of Edinburgh College and Glasgow Kelvin College
Particular thanks to Meggy Viana (Choreography), Stella Tobia (Film/TV)
A.T. Best Handlers Ltd – Richard Rose, John Shute & Lorna
All the team at Visit Scotland and Event Scotland and in particular Sarah Jane Dooley
Creative Scotland – Vanessa Boyd
Arts and Business Scotland – Carl Wood
Jonny Crombie
Storytelling PR Team – Emma Costello, Miriam Attwood, Mim Black, Harry Harris
George Brown & Sons (Leith)
Addison Conservation + Design
Findlay Lockie
STORM’s internal engineering was remodelled from original work by Simon Owen and Vladimero Guerriero created for Big Man Walking, by Vision Mechanics.
A full list of location specific credits will be available on the relevant STORM event page.
Vision Mechanics Ltd is a registered charity SCO23585
Volunteer to be in the STORM stewarding team – holding the cordon and keeping the puppet moving!