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.


April 12 - April 14 2023

Paper Planet at Fed Square

Paper Planet is a universally accessible experience that families find utterly captivating.

A Paper Planet production photo. A wide shot showing a forest of tall, brown cardboard trees in a darkened theatre space. The trees are illuminated with theatre lighting.

Children and families are invited into a forest of tall cardboard trees and after exploring the space, they add to this strange and delicate planet using only paper, tape and their imaginations. Theatre and play merge in this magical place, as creatures, plants, costumes, characters, stories and adventures spring to life.

Paper Planet grows as more families visit, and every session is truly unique as imaginations go wild. Children choose how they interact with the performers and with other children; some children find themselves absorbed in quiet making, and others prefer to play and explore.

Paper Planet is child-led, deeply involving and highly sensory, and sure to delight the whole family.

“It was amazing. We felt inspired and safe.” Parent

Venue

  • The Edge, Fed Square
    Corner of Swanston St & Flinders St
    Melbourne VIC 3000

Session Times

  • Wednesday 12 April: 10.30am-12.30pm, 2pm-4pm
  • Thursday 13 April: 10.30am-12.30pm, 2pm-4pm
  • Friday 14 April: 10.30am-12.30pm, 2pm-4pm

FREE drop-in sessions. No bookings required.

  • Paper Planet will take place indoors, in The Edge at Fed Square. The Edge has lift access and is wheelchair accessible. Arrangements can also be made to enter from the Fed Square Car Park.
  • Accessible toilets are located in The Atrium next to IceBar.
  • A registered Changing Places bathroom is available in The Atrium. This provides suitable facilities for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets. It is located off the same corridor as the other Atrium toilets. This corridor is open 7 days a week, 6am-11.30pm. Access to the Changing Places bathroom is via MLAK key or by calling security on the intercom at the end of the corridor.
  • An All-Gender Toilet with open urinals can be found in the Atrium, down the hallway by the stairs.
  • Seeing-eye dogs are welcome at Fed Square.
  • A Prayer Room is located in The Atrium, down the hallway by the stairs. The intercom located next to the door will contact our security team who can then unlock the door for you.
  • The undulating surface of the Main Square is made up of sandstone cobblestones, with a marked access path.
  • For more information and a map, please visit fedsquare.com/accessibility
  • If you have any questions about venue accessibility, please contact Fed Square on 03 9655 1900 or info@fedsquare.com.
  • A visual story for this performance can be viewed/downloaded HERE.

Paper Planet

  • Children and families choose how they interact with the performers and the space.
  • Paper Planet is a universally accessible experience. There is no English language barrier, and it can be entirely non-verbal.
  • You can come and go from Paper Planet at any time during the sessions. Some families might like to stay for 10 mins, others an hour.
  • Paper Planet does not use bright or flashing lights although it does incorporate a soundscape through speakers embedded in the set.
  • Polyglot Theatre staff are trained in disability and cultural awareness. If you have any questions about Paper Planet, please contact us on 03 9826 3301 or info@polyglot.org.au.

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.
  • There are baby change facilities located in The Atrium next to IceBar, and in the Main Square, next to Time Out Café. These are accessible by parents and carers of any gender.
  • Water, infants’ bottles and breastfeeding/chestfeeding are welcome, however we do ask that there is no eating (where possible) in the Paper Planet performance space.
  • Refreshments can be purchased from multiple cafes, bars and shops at Fed Square. For more information, please visit fedsquare.com/eat-drink
  • Fed Square has multiple water refill stations: Atrium entrance in front of Beer Deluxe; rear of the Square next to Mabu Mabu; top of the stairs on Swanston Street Forecourt; along River Terrace.
  • The closest playground is located next to the ArtPlay building in Birrarung Marr, along the Yarra.

Public Transport

  • The nearest train station is Flinders Street (Stop ID 19854, Zone 1), which is approximately 52m from Fed Square. Station facilities include: Facilities include: pay phone, sheltered waiting area, Passenger Information Display, Traveller’s Aid, accessible toilets, taxi rank, CCTV, lighting, escalator, Hearing Loop, lift, stairs, Tactile Ground Surface Indicator, accessible telephone.
  • The nearest tram stop is Federation Square/Swanston St #13 (Stop ID 19499). It is a level access stop, but not all routes that use this stop are currently serviced by low-floor trams. Facilities include: payphone, lighting, Tactile Ground Surface Indicator, accessible ramp.

Bike

  • Bike racks are located: between Transport Bar and Princes Bridge on Swanston Street Forecourt; at the rear of the Square along River Terrace.

Parking

  • The multi-level Federation Square Car Park is accessible from Russell Street or Batman Ave (Exhibition Street extension – City Link). It is open 24hrs and has accessible spaces located next to the lift on each level.
  • The height restriction for vehicles is 2.1 metres. Should your vehicle exceed this accessible height car park then please contact Fed Square on (03) 9655 1900 and they will assist in providing an alternative arrangement.
  • A parking day begins at 6:00 am.
  • Casual rates begin from $6 for the first 30 mins, and an earlybird rate is available from $18. For more information and to book, please visit fedsquare.com/parking

Taxis and picking up/dropping off passengers

  • The safest place to pick up and drop off passengers is the Taxi Rank across the road on Swanston Street.

For thousands of years, the land around Birrarung (the Yarra River) has been Melbourne’s meeting place – an area of cultural significance for First Peoples and a place of creative expression. Today the site is home to the Melbourne Arts Precinct; a vibrant creative community and the artistic heart of our city.

Fed Square is the gateway to the art precinct – and as Melbourne’s public square it is the civic, cultural and community heart of the city. It also home to three of Victoria’s major cultural institutions: ACMI – Australia’s Museum of Screen Culture, the Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT) and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.

Located opposite the iconic Flinders St Station, Fed Square is also Melbourne’s premier meeting place, tourist destination and event venue for thousands of events a year – since opening in 2002, it has seen more than 100 million visits.

In 2019, Fed Square was listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, the youngest building in Australia to ever be recognised in this way.

fedsquare.com

Watch the trailer

Contact

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