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.

10 Jun 2026 Education News

June Education News

Forest production photo: Laura May Grogan. A young child in a brown t-shirt reaches into a large silver vat of water, filled with twigs, sticks and leaves.

“Creative arts are vital to our mental wellbeing”

“Creative arts are vital to our mental wellbeing and important for self-expression, advocacy and social justice and a part of what… gives us our humanity and connects us with something bigger than ourselves.” Educator, on the importance of creative arts experiences in education

Feature photo: Forest. Laura May Grogan

Paper Planet production photo: Katje Ford, Sydney Opera House. A Polyglot artist in an intricate, handmade paper costume engages with a small child, throwing pieces of paper into the air. They are in a darkened, theatrically lit space.
When the World Turns production photo: Sachyn Mital. A child wearing purple glasses reaches toward a light bulb hanging from a blue ribbon. An adult is seated in the background,

Photos L-R: Paper Planet. Katje Ford, Sydney Opera House. When the World Turns. Sachyn Mital, Lincoln Center (USA)

At the heart of Polyglot’s artistic practice is agency through immersive participation. Our in-school programs invite students to collaborate, play, test ideas, respond to their environment, and forge meaning through shared creative experiences. Our week-long model supports sustained engagement across whole school communities, and Polyglot artists tailor creative participation to individual children, ensuring a safe, accessible experience for everyone.

Wish Street

“The young people have taken so much ownership over Wish Street and are so invested in it as an idea. They are passionate about what they’ve made, and many are talking about ‘Wish Street next year.’” Artist workshop report.

Our collaboration with Satellite Foundation continues to offer spaces for children, educators and artists to have brave conversations. Celebrating the unique and powerful intersection of theatre-making and family mental health awareness, Wish Street invites young people to build a large-scale world using simple materials, their imaginations and real-life experiences.

Wish Street production photo: A Polyglot artist stands on a platform in the classroom, gesturing toward a roll of parchment paper with the 'Wish Street song' written on it. They are wearing a paper top hat and vest. On the left side of the image, there's the Wishing Tree trunk with fairy lights wrapped around it..
Wish Street production photo: Maisy Butchart. A white bookshelf in the classroom is adorned with paper creations, and surrounded by paper cut outs of birds and leaves.

Photos: Maisy Butchart

Recently, we returned to a regional primary school for a week-long residency. Classes created a capybara house, a “jar of laughter”, waterfalls and hotels, nail salons, cafés and community gathering places. A new check-in process saw children mark their mood on a scale from sunshine to storm cloud at the beginning and end of each session, encouraging reflection and emotional awareness.

Voice Lab also spoke to participants before and after the residency, capturing the impact and resonance of Wish Street.

Learn more.

When the World Turns: disability inclusive theatres in schools

When the World Turns — Polyglot’s collaboration with Oily Cart (UK), commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne — is a sensory theatrical journey created especially for young people with complex disability and their adults.

Across 2026-2029, with support from the Victorian Department of Education Strategic Partnerships Program and generous philanthropic funding, Polyglot and Arts Centre Melbourne will continue touring the production into specialist and special development schools. This ensures we overcome access barriers, and the work reaches the young people for whom it was designed. Our 2026 activity has begun with week-long residencies at Yarra Ranges and Bendigo Special Development Schools.

When the World Turns: Suzanne Phoenix. A Polyglot artist crouches towards the ground, wearing a bucket hat and khaki top. They are engaged with a child wearing a teal jumper, who uses a wheelchair.
When the World Turns: Sarah Walker. A child who uses a wheelchair, plays with a long cylinder cardboard tube. A Polyglot artist stands behind them, smiling and watching on. Another adult has their hand on the child's shoulder. There are fairy lights in the background.

L: Suzanne Phoenix. R: Sarah Walker

“One student said, ‘Wow I like this place. I want to stay here all day long.’” Stage Manager show report.

Alongside our touring, Polyglot and Arts Centre Melbourne recently hosted an in-person professional development session for educators, exploring the pedagogical frameworks and sensory methodologies that shape When the World Turns. Through collaborative exercises and creative experimentation, participants considered how theatrical and biophilic techniques can support authentic agency, connection, and inclusive learning environments. Similar workshops will be offered online later in the year. 

Learn more.

Forest premiere

“This is our world.” Student

Last month, our brand-new immersive show Forest premiered at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Set among the rustling trees of a real forest, this bold production is a wondrous celebration of ecosystems and possibility. Across the final creative development and testing sessions, and the season, we welcomed local playgroups, early childhood education centres, schools, and the Home Education Network. 

Forest production photo: Laura May Grogan. A Polyglot artist crouches on the forest floor, level with three other children who are partially seated or standing. They are playing with blue lamp shades, and one child shows a leaf to the artist.
Forest production photo: Laura May Grogan. A Polyglot artist crouches on the forest floor, level with two other children who are standing and playing with long sticks in the silver cauldron of water. An adult is also crouched toward the ground, across the artist.

Photos: Laura May Grogan

An early learning educator shared, “I have never seen so many children so deeply engaged all at the one time. The program was age appropriate and inclusive for everyone, including adults. We had wonderful responses from the families that attended and the next time the children visited the gardens many of them thought back to the amazing experience they had, sharing stories with others who had unfortunately not been able to attend. Thank you so much for bringing this magical performance to our local community.”

Thank you

When the World Turns: disability inclusive theatre in schools is a collaboration between Polyglot Theatre (AUS) and Oily Cart (UK), commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne and generously supported by the Cassandra Gantner Foundation. The 2025 schools tour is further supported by Arts Centre Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Education Strategic Partnerships Program, Mr Mark Robertson OAM and Mrs Anne Robertson, Maureen and Tony Wheeler, Gandel Foundation, Bec Wilkinson, Wendy Kozica. Polyglot thanks our ongoing plant sponsor ecoDynamics, and SÜK Workwear.

Logos: When the World Turns 2025 schools tour supporters. Arts Centre Melbourne, Cassandra Gantner Foundation, Victoria State Government Department of Education, ecoDynamics.

The 2026 premiere season of Forest by Polyglot Theatre was 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.

Logos: Polyglot Theatre, with tagline, 'theatre is child's play'; Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne; Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation; The Robert Salzer Foundation; ArtPlay City of Melbourne.

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