Performance Pt 2: Bearfight

The scene starts with the dramatic arrival of Iorek Byrnison at the bears’ palace at Svalbard. King Iofur (Chris Larkin) agrees to fight him and leaves the stage to put on his armour. Lyra (Anna Maxwell Martin) explains to Iorek (Danny Sapani) how she has tricked the bear king into single combat but now she is worried that Iorek may not have the strength for the fight. Iorek is delighted at the outcome and renames her Lyra Silvertongue for her ability to talk her way out of trouble. King Iofur returns and challenges Iorek. The battle lines are clear for a fight to the death; to continue Iofur’s reign with the bears aping humans or follow Iorek in returning Svalbard to a traditional way of life.

The bear fight that follows shows the outcome of all the work put in by Danny Sapani, Chris Larkham and fight arranger Terry King in rehearsal. Click back to the previous page to find the rehearsal ‘Bear Fight’. The final fight is very demanding on the actors, as the complex choreography has to be performed in the very hot bear costumes.