Theatre Maker and Designer
SUSIE BEARE
Set Building
My set building started as a teenager working with my local amateur theatre group building and canvasing flats, building giant rocks, fake sewing machines and much more! I continued to build through my university course taking pleasure in building precisely and with attention to detail. Since graduating, I have been working as a freelance set builder and honing my craft while making all kinds of weird and wonderful set pieces!
Family Stories
Lead Carpenter/Lead install
Spielman Theatre, Tobacco Factory
Written By: Biljana Srbljanović
Director: Nastazja Domaradzka
Designer: Alice Sales
Lighting designer: George Seal
Sound designer: Jovana Backovic
I was commissioned to build the set for Bristol School of Acting's Production of 'Family Stories' in the Tobacco Factory Theatre. The set consisted of a series of book flats with smashed glass windows, a giant sand pit filled with toys and some staggered height benches.
The SnowMouse
Carpenter
For this commission I built a 2m high tree for The Egg's Production of 'The Snowmouse' Which toured to Yate, Darlington and Bath. The tree was then covered in a fluffy cover to fit the aesthetic of the set.
Barbie-You can be anything:The experience
Assistant Carpenter
I worked on this with 'The Bakehouse Factory' in the summer of 2023. The experience consisted of a series of different sets that showed what career barbie could have (e.g Athlete, Artist, Pilot, Marine Biologist). Each set had interactive elements that the children could play with.
Glo wild
Assistant Carpenter
Working with 'The Bakehouse Factory again, I helped build some set pieces for Glo Wild at Paignton zoo. This was an interactive light trail throughout the zoo for visitors to walk amongst.
Beasts and Beauties
Head of Construction
The Mission, Bath
December 2021
Director: Barra Collins
Set Designer: Katja La Broun
Costume Designer: Katja La Broun
Lighting Designer: Thornley Thomas-Atkins
Sound Designer: Charlie Wilsher
Photos: Nick Spratling
Travellers came to Bath for the production of Beasts and Beauties. They told folk tales of old using props and costumes from their crates and boxes they had picked up on their travels.
My role on this show was to bring the set design to reality by building the old factory they were squatting in. I enjoyed building the levels, staircase and ladders which became a playground for the travellers to tell their stories.
Sit com
Production Carpenter/ Lead Install
I lead the Build of this set in the Bath Spa University TV studio in 2023. The set is a modular set which makes it flexible in its layout year to year. I built these flats back in my first year at University when it took a completely different shape.
Love and Information
Construction assistant
Rondo Theatre, Bath
May 2021
Director: Kirstie Davies
Set Designer: Emma Smith
Costume Designer: Holly Glover
Lighting Designer: Lizzie Lee
Sound Designer: Rhiannon Woodhams
Photos: Nick Spratling
Caryl Churchill's play Love and Information consists of 58 scenes and 100 characters played by a smaller cast taking on multiple characters. Each scene is linked together by its theme of love, information, memory and identity.
My role was to help build the set. We had a very short turn-around for it but I enjoyed working under pressure and doing the intricate joinery work on the window frames.
