Urban Legend

Big Bugs is a satirical urban spectacle about the beetles who grow to enormous proportions because of the consumption of junk food and breathtaking amounts of food waste being available to them on the streets of big cities.

Four huge lifelike beetles show up in the middle of the city. The ‘Kafkaesque’ parade, consisting of a giant Cockroach; an enormous Lady-bug; a Stag beetle and a Jewel beetle go on rampage through the streets, causing excitement and ‘mass-hysteria’ amongst the public. They are accompanied by The Forester who is trying to get a grip on the situation. “Don’t panic! We have everything under control!” he shouts while the astonished crowd shrink back screaming.

The act, which starts as electrifying chaos-generating happening among the audience, culminates in a hilarious circle-performance on a city-square.

Satirical

The story gets a satirical dimension through the character of The Forester (a spokesman of the environmental organisation G.R.E.E.N.) as he reveals a special bugs fitness/lifestyle program which will reduce them back to normal size. A solution to the giant-beetles-issue which is causing a widespread panic and unrest amongst the population in and around big cities.

The creators

Big Bugs Show is created by theatre-makers and artists Iva & Petar Mandick, and performed by their group Mr.Image Theatre.

Continually exploring new dimensions in visual/mask theatre, in 2012 Iva & Petar launched Big Bugs Show, a ‘Kafkaesque’ crawling spectacle featuring four giant lifelike beetles. The spectacle is set on streets, right amongst the audience. By taking some popular themes, such as ‘junk food’ and ‘food waste’ – and turning them into a form of a satirical urban legend, the authors create original contemporary street theatre that communicates with broad audience.