April E-News

“Daily life tools were changed to wings of imagination”

As we move through Autumn and notice the quiet shifts of the season, we find ourselves drawn to the creativity of our surroundings – the twirl of falling leaves, the playful hide-n-seek games between sun and clouds, and the steady drum of the rain.

There’s no better time to celebrate these small wonders than during Nature Play Week 2026 (11–22 April).

L: Ants. Theresa Harrison. R: Forest. Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore.

Set in nature, our bold new work Forest premieres next month among the rustling trees of Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Reflecting on a creative development session last year, one family shared how, “daily life tools were changed to wings of imagination.”

Our April school holiday season brings Ants to Fed Square this weekend, followed by Art Tree, set to bloom at Brighton Town Hall. You’ll also find Voice Lab at Little Food Festival – drop in for a chat about food systems.

Wild spaces between the trees

We’re thrilled to be premiering Forest, our brand-new immersive show, in the living landscape of Cranbourne Gardens.

Presented and supported by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, this bold, vibrant production invites children aged 4-10 years and their families to explore our connection to forests, and the creatures and characters within.

Forest. Laura May Grogan.

Join us for a wondrous celebration of ecosystems and possibility.

16-17 May. Tickets essential.

Learn more.

Ants at Fed Square

This weekend, delve into the enchanting world of Ants at Fed Square. Ants as big as humans work with children to collect hundreds of giant breadcrumbs, creating lines and patterns which transform public spaces and disrupt the everyday.

This collaborative experience unveils a world of meaning, encouraging children to become Ant-like creatures and interact with the performers at their own pace.

11-12 April. FREE drop-in performances. No bookings required.

Learn more.

Ants. Lucy Parakhina, Bondi Festival.

Grow with Art Tree at Brighton Town Hall

Next week, natural materials come to life with colour and imagination at Art Tree. In this gentle, creative Play Space, children and families make their mark on locally foraged natural materials such as leaves, sticks and seed pods.

Play with wands, trace a line on the floor, and explore the hanging, drawing branches. Spread your branches and reach for the sky. You are the art.

15-18 April. FREE, no bookings required.

Learn more.

Art Tree. L: Instant Crush, Moomba Festival. R: Sarah Walker.

Nature Play Week 2026

“Nature is for all – for our company, our artists and our audiences, for children and their communities.” Cat Sewell, Artistic Director and Co-CEO.

At Polyglot, nature is connected into all that we do. It inspires and informs our artistic explorations. It provides places and spaces we perform in. We’re conscious of the materials we use, and re-use (and re-use and re-use and…)

Nature sparks the play, creations and adventures that unfold in our shows. It offers open-ended ripples of opportunity

L: Forest. Sarah Walker. R: FLOAT. William Hamilton Coates.

Nature Play Week takes place 11-22 April. Developed by the Kids in Nature Network, it was first celebrated in 2014.

Explore our 2026 celebration.

Thank You

The premiere season of Forest by Polyglot Theatre is presented and supported by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, with further support from the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation and the Robert Salzer Foundation. The development was supported by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and ArtPlay City of Melbourne.

Ants is presented by Fed Square and supported by the City of Melbourne.