Tortoise in a Nutshell on play, participation and new show Ginger

Alex Bird, co-director of the award-winning theatre company Tortoise in a Nutshell, jokes that the company’s love for biscuits and confectionery necessitated an entire show dedicated to them. This creation is Ginger, a captivating, multi-sensory experience that focuses on the unattainability of perfection as well as themes of community and connection. This heartfelt production offers a tonic to the increasingly capitalistic Christmas treadmill, and I wanted to hear more about its conception and message as we near its launch at Tramway this festive season.

The eponymous Ginger is a misshapen gingerbread character whose story of limb difference makes us think about our own views on perfection. “It’s a bit of a specific look at a notion of diversity,” Bird tells me. “A piece for young people that tries to find the joy in not being 'perfect' but in just being yourself.” Much like Charles Dickens’ Tiny Tim, the character of Ginger asks us to look inwards and celebrate the humanity that has always been at the heart of the festive season.

Ginger arose from the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic and the company’s desire to undertake collaborative community research and engagement. “We wanted to try and understand more about the real needs and interests of communities across Scotland,” explains Bird. “We wanted to know about the stories people were interested in seeing and the barriers that blocked people from accessing them. Issues of cost, place, and fear of judgement were huge factors in the responses we received.”

Ginger. Credit: Tortoise in a Nutshell

Amidst an enduring cost-of-living crisis, the accessibility of Ginger feels vitally important. Tickets for the one-hour performance and interactive workshop are £6 for an adult and £4 for a child. “One of the core ideas behind Ginger was to try and make a piece that felt open and accessible to a whole range of different people. We wanted to create a place for members of different generations to meet and find something joyful.”

The notion of coming together and sharing experiences has shaped the research and design of the piece. “We started the process of making Ginger by doing a lot of home baking, and it felt really fun to create biscuity people of all sorts of different shapes, sizes, and kinds. We also spent a lot of time playing in kitchens; finding the hidden nooks and corners and seeing what magic they might hold.” This sense of joy and togetherness will be emulated through the performance as the Tramway audience is invited to decorate their own gingerbread figures. This communal joy is a celebration of Ginger’s core message. 

This very act of play itself is front and centre in Ginger. “We really love making experiences that give people the chance to escape and follow the playfulness of their own imaginations.” The act of play is central to the Scottish Early Years Curriculum, emphasising the importance of child-led activity with educators and caregivers as engaged participants. Ginger’s inviting and participatory environment champions this guiding principle, inviting children and adults alike to connect in a space of playful collaboration.  

In the maelstrom of a devastating news cycle and a festive season dominated by a persistent cost of living crisis, these moments of collective play and sensory connection feel vitally important. As we approach the conveyor belt of Christmas films, Santa visits, and work nights out, it’s easy to forget the importance of slowing down. Stopping to genuinely be together and play together feels like a quietly radical act. In giving us a space to do so, Ginger might just remind us of what is truly important this festive season.

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Ginger, Tramway, Glasgow, 6-10 & 12-16 Dec, 1.30 & 4.30pm, £4-6