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.

October 01 2025

Bees at Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery (TMAG)

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

A Bees production photo. Polyglot artists in intricate Bee costumes are perched on and around a large metal pipe on green lawn. Children wearing handmade paper antennae and wings sit on the pipe amongst them. There is a heritage red brick building in the background.

Presented by Theatre Royal, Hobart

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.

Venues

  • Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery Courtyard, Dunn Pl, Hobart TAS 7000. Google Maps link here.

Dates & Session Times

  • 1 October: 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm

Bookings

  • FREE drop-in performances. No bookings required.
  • Bees will take place outdoors, in the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery Courtyard. You can access a map of the grounds here.
  • There is level access to all public areas of the site and elevators are available for movement between levels.
  • Toilet facilities are located on the ground floor near the visitor information desk. Accessible toilets are available on the ground floor and Level 2.
  • Loan wheelchairs are also available from the Visitor Information desk. Booking a loan wheelchair in advance of your visit is advised and can be organised by phoning (03) 6165 7000.
  • Guide dogs and registered service animals are welcome in all gallery spaces and to all TMAG events.
  • Cloaking facilities are available at the Visitor Information Desk. TMAG asks that all backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, food and drink are left in the locker area prior to entry. A $2 coin is required to use the lockers, which is refunded at the end of your visit.
  • For your comfort, the comfort of other visitors and to ensure the safety of the TMAG collection, visitors may not eat or drink in the galleries beyond the Visitor Information desk. Smoking is also not allowed anywhere on TMAG property.

 

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 available to view/download HERE.


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.
  • You can find baby changing facilities at The Owens Foyer on Level 2.
  • Pram parking will be available. Please check with TMAG staff upon arrival.
  • Food and drinks (including takeaway options) are available to purchase nearby from The Terrace Café, Container in the Square Café, and Queens Court. Please note that no food and drink is permitted in TMAG.
  • Franklin Square is located 500m from TMAG, for picnicking either before or after Bees.

Parking & Transit

  • TMAG is located in Dunn Place, Hobart and is accessible in the following ways. Buses and passenger vans can drop off visitors on Campbell Street, outside the Hotel Grand Chancellor, or on Argyle Street, opposite the Maritime Museum.
  • Car parking, including accessible parking, is available in the Dunn Street car park, council parking fees apply.
  • To reach TMAG in Hobart via public transport, you can use Metro Tasmania’s bus service. Several routes pass near City Hall, and you can easily find the most suitable route and timetable using their online journey planner or by checking the specific route maps and timetables.

Theatre Royal, Hobart

Opening in 1837, Hobart’s Theatre Royal has been the home of contemporary theatre in Tasmania for more than 185 years and is Australia’s oldest working theatre. This 700-seat national treasure occupies an important place in the hearts of Tasmanians and many visitors to Hobart.

Every year, the Theatre Royal curates an annual season of contemporary performance and events, which aim to present high calibre experiences that local audiences would not otherwise have the opportunity to see.

theatreroyal.com.au

LOGO, Theatre Royal, Hobart (2025)

 

Tasmanian Art Gallery & Museum (TMAG)

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) is Tasmania’s leading natural and cultural heritage organisation. It is a combined museum, art gallery and herbarium which safeguards the physical evidence of Tasmania’s natural and cultural heritage, and the cultural identity of Tasmanians.

tmag.tas.gov.au

LOGO. Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery (2025)

Watch the trailer

When

01 Oct 2025

Session time

10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm

Cost

FREE drop-in performances. No bookings required.

Venue

Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery Courtyard (TMAG)

Age

  • Children and families

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Access Wheelchair Access
  • Accessible Toilet Accessible Toilet
  • Visual Story (Yes) Visual Story (Yes)
  • Registered Assistance & Companion Animals welcome Registered Assistance & Companion Animals welcome
More info
03 9658 7880

Contact

Polyglot Theatre

Contact

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