Acknowledgment of country

Polyglot acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and create, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. For more than 65,000 years, children and families have created and played here, and we are grateful to make our art on this country too.

January 18 - January 24 2027

Bees at Arts Centre Melbourne

Bees is a joyful interactive work in which children are welcomed into a world of community, communication, wonder and imagination.

Bees production photo. Theresa Harrison. A Polyglot artist in an intricate black and yellow bee costume crouches on a green lawn. A small child, holding their parent's arm, looks at them intently. Other families are visible in the background, and the grassy area is surrounded by trees.

Presented as part of the Summer Families Program

Explore a buzzing, humming hive of activity, as three human-sized Bees busy themselves in the creation of a community alongside children who transform into bees as they play. The bees are fascinating, strange and beautiful, traversing invisible pathways and mapping delicate patterns across the performance space.

Inspired by the mysterious life and work of bees, this re-imagining of public space involves the slow uncovering of an intricate unseen world. Children are immersed in the sounds, shapes and scents of the bee world, from their familiar buzz to honeycomb houses. Bees uses ritual, non-verbal communication and the secret world of bee movement to provide a range of access points for children to participate.

This season of Bees is supported by the City of Melbourne.

Logo: City of Melbourne
  • Arts Centre Melbourne
    Theatres Building forecourt
    Google Maps link: HERE.
    100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank VIC 3004

 

Dates & Session Times

  • 18-24 January: 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm (30-minute sessions)

    • Monday 18 Jan: Please note only afternoon performances will take place on this day.
    • Wednesday 20 Jan: Please note that no performances will take place on this day.
  • FREE, no bookings required. 
  • There are multiple accessible toilets, gendered bathrooms, gender-neutral bathrooms, and Changing Places in all three of the Arts Centre Melbourne buildings. Please see here for more information.
  • Arts Centre Melbourne is wheelchair accessible, and offers free wheelchair loans.
  • Assistance Animals are welcome in all areas of Arts Centre Melbourne and water bowls are available on request.

Bees

  • Children and families choose how they interact with the performers and the landscape. Some participants may prefer a gentle experience, others may be more energetic.
  • Bees does not use bright or flashing lights.
  • Bees contains amplified sound and music that is played through portable speakers.
  • A Visual Story to help your family prepare for the experience is coming soon.


How to prepare:

  • When you come to a Polyglot show we recommend you wear comfortable clothing that allows you to enjoy moving. Remember that you have come for an adventure and there are many ways to begin finding your play. You are curious and this space is yours. Just as you might at the beach, do you take your time and dip your toe in to warm up, or do you run and jump right in? The worlds we set up welcome you to take your time and find your own way to your imaginative play; and our performers are there to join you, or play alongside you, and look after these worlds and their inhabitants.
  • Water, infants’ bottles and breastfeeding/chestfeeding are welcome, however we do ask that there is no eating (where possible) in the Bees performance space.
  • Food and drinks (including takeaway options) are available to purchase from Protagonist, located just outside the Theatres Building.
  • Arts Centre Melbourne is located across the river from Flinders Street Station in Melbourne CBD. There are a wide range of transport options to get there, including by car, train, tram, bike, or taxi.

 

Public Transport

Children and teens under 18 can travel for free on all Victorian public transport services, provided they carry and tap on with a $5 Youth myki.

Train

  • The closest train station to all three venues is Flinders Street Station (250m away from venue), or Town Hall Station (350m away from venue), which is connected to Flinders Street Station via an underground walkway.
    • Exit the station onto Swanston Street, turn your back on the city and travel across Princes Bridge.

Tram

  • The tram routes that stop in front of Arts Centre Melbourne are: 1, 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72. This stop is number 14 – “Arts Precinct ”. These stops are 150m away from the venue.

Parking

  • Arts Centre Melbourne’s undercover car park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For all car park information, please refer to the Parking webpage.
  • There is extremely limited street parking around all three venues, including several accessible car parks. These spaces cannot be reserved, and time limits may apply.

Bike

  • Bicycle lanes run north and south along St Kilda Road. On-street bicycle hoops are available outside Hamer Hall and the Theatres Building.

 

Visit Arts Centre Melbourne’s Getting There page for detailed information, including accessible travel options.

Arts Centre Melbourne sits on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People. The site has been a gathering place for storytelling, community and culture for First Nations people for millennia. In recent times, the same place has become home to the Melbourne Arts Precinct – one of the largest concentrations of cultural and creative organisations and artists in the world. 
 
With its iconic spire, Arts Centre Melbourne is both an architectural and cultural landmark. It is the flagship of the performing arts in the state of Victoria and the focal point of the cultural precinct in Melbourne/Naarm.
 
Housing an array of venues including the Theatres Building (under spire), Hamer Hall and Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Arts Centre Melbourne is Australia’s largest and busiest performing arts venue, staging more than 1000 performances and public events each year.artscentremelbourne.com.au

Arts Centre Melbourne logo, 2026

Watch the trailer

When

18 - 24 Jan 2027

Session time

10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm

Cost

FREE drop-in performances. No bookings required.

Venue

Arts Centre Melbourne

Age

  • Children and families

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Access Wheelchair Access
  • Accessible Toilet Accessible Toilet
  • Visual Story (Yes) Visual Story (Yes)
  • Changing Places Toilet Changing Places Toilet
  • Registered Assistance & Companion Animals welcome Registered Assistance & Companion Animals welcome
Learn more
1300 182 183

Contact

Polyglot Theatre

Contact

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