From the creators of international smash hits The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer and It’s Dark Outside comes New Owner, performed at Arts Centre Melbourne from 17 – 18 July. The sensitive show about loss, friendship and new beginnings is presented by internationally renowned theatre company, The Last Great Hunt (WA). Knowing that puppies are the best medicine, Mabel adopts Bart from the animal shelter to help heal her widowed heart. But Mabel is old, and Bart is young, and not all love can last forever. Suddenly alone, Bart embarks on an urban odyssey of towering hot dog carts, menacing dog-nappers and junkyard camaraderie.
Then from 22 – 26 September the beloved Where is the Green Sheep?, an immersive visual theatre experience based on the beloved children’s book by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek will be brought to the stage by acclaimed children’s theatre company Monkey Baa during the Spring school holidays. We meet Blue Sheep who loves blue flowers and Red Sheep who loves to cartwheel in the fields, Bath Sheep who loves bubbles and Bed Sheep who loves to bounce… But where IS that Green Sheep?
Blending puppetry and animation, this beautiful production invites young audiences to join three farmers on their quest to find the elusive green sheep. Co-created with students from Bankstown West Public School, this production integrates their voices as narrators, ensuring the work resonates deeply with young audiences.
“It felt like a gift when Judy asked to meet to discuss her desire to turn this iconic children’s book into a stage show. I imagined the characters bouncing off the page from the stage to the page and knew that these sheep needed the perfect partner to theatricalise them. MonkeyBaa, with their extensive experience of book adaptations for early years, were the right company to introduce to Judy,’’ said Mary Harvey, recalling Arts Centre Melbourne’s involvement and subsequent funding in the creative development of the work. Where is the Green Sheep? is a co-production with QPAC’s Out of the Box in association with Arts Centre Melbourne, The Sydney Opera House and The Art House, Wyong.
These works are presented as part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s year-round Families and Children Program. Launched in August 2009, it has grown in reputation to become a highly respected program nationally and internationally. Featuring intimate and large-scale theatre from some of the world’s most respected companies, the program is robust and growing in size, scale and scope.
artscentremelbourne.com.au
