Bear, Away Resorts

Creature Encounters has been contracted to maintain, rebuild, manage, and create new assets for Away Resorts since 2021. During that time we have supported Away Resorts in their ambition to offer the world’s leading character experiences, through the development of their costume and puppet characters Bear, Lucy & Scratch. We're very proud to play a continuing part in the legacy of this leading brand.

Our brand new Bears completed their training with their character assistants this week and have now been released into the wild. If you find yourself at an Away Resorts this summer keep an eye out for Bear, seven and a half feet of furry fun is difficult to miss!

If you are planning something similar and want to have an informal chat about how our animatronic costume characters, puppets and training can help you achieve your aims, please get in touch.

Inka the Polar Bear

With support from the Cultural Recovery Fund, we have been plotting a strong Christmas comeback for Xmas 2021. Here we are testing our new start attraction, Inka the polar bear! She and her cubs will be accompanied by a Lars, a Sammi herder to help them navigate the human realm this Christmas…

Known to the Sami people as “the old man in the fur cloak”, the Polar Bear is a powerful symbol of the strength and endurance of the Arctic. As their sea ice habitat recedes earlier in the spring and forms later in the autumn, polar bears have begun exploring areas of the human population. Meet Inka, driven South from her maternal den high on the Arctic ice; she seeks a new home for herself and her cubs. Accompanied by a Sami gentleman from Svalbard, they have arrived on our shores with a plea for change. The curtailment of carbon emissions, a switch to cleaner fuels and more sustainable economic practices. Step forward and meet the planets largest carnivore (she’s friendly), soothe her cubs and pose for a photo.

Here For Culture

We were thrilled to hear we have received funding thanks to the government’s #CultureRecoveryFund so that we can continue to be here for you and #HereForCulture

Culture creates jobs, supports livelihoods, and brings joy to everyone. The UK leads the world in the creative industries and we can all feel pride in that.

Now, in these challenging times, it’s our turn to show our support for culture. With an unprecedented investment through the Culture Recovery Fund, the government is #HereForCulture so it can weather the storm of coronavirus and come back stronger.

And we are #HereForCulture too.

#HereForCulture is a movement that unites the public, government and cultural organisations in support of our fantastic cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, galleries and heritage.

With more and more culture being curated online, there is no better time to support and enjoy all the new and exciting ways culture is available to us.

By being #HereForCulture, we aren’t just supporting the people in the industry, we’re also supporting communities across the country.

About #HereForCulture

Here for Culture is a movement that unites the public, government and cultural organisations in support of our fantastic cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, galleries and heritage.

Whether on the global stage or quietly in our own lives, culture inspires, uplifts, comforts and entertains us. Now, in these challenging times, it’s our turn to provide a lifeline and show our support. The government is #HereForCulture with an unprecedented amount of funding coming through on top of the furlough scheme, bounce-back loans and emergency grants. The public has been #HereForCulture as organisations have innovated online and outdoors.

Join us to show your support – whether it’s announcing or welcoming funding or promoting online or COVID-secure ways to experience and enjoy culture.

Happier Times

Here we are in all our pre-Corona-glory on our last great jaunt in more innocent times. We spent the New year in Moscow enlivening the streets by day and busting some moves by night. It was a glorious, magical time, a glittering jewel in our companies crown, perhaps never to be repeated. These photos were taken the night before we pulled the pin in pokey cellar bar hidden in the back streets. There is a particular alchemy to partying with friends and strangers in a foreign land, I hope with everything I have that we get to do it again.

Stay safe people. x