Polyglot’s March e-news

“Follow their curiosity”

Polyglot has enjoyed a wonderful start to the year, having already reached over 5000 people through performances, workshops and creative developments. We love seeing how children, families and schools engage with our art, and these contributions always open new ways of thinking for us as well.

“My daughter is incredibly shy, but this brought her totally out of her shell. Your staff were wonderful, encouraging and fun, and her confidence grew as she safely explored the space. It was brilliant, and she talked about it all the way home. Actually we’re home now, and she’s still talking about it.” Parent, Tangle

Bees returns to Melbourne

Our beloved Bees was developed through The Generator, the program that expands Polyglot’s artistic voice by inviting our core artists to engage deeply in our vision. Bees premiered at Abbotsford Convent last year, before touring in Victoria and the USA. It returns to Melbourne this month, presented by ArtPlay with Moomba Festival. We look forward to welcoming families into a buzzing, humming hive of imagination on the ArtPlay lawn, amidst the Moomba activity. 
 
“Like all of Polyglot’s shows there are lots of ways into Bees. Children and their families can take their time to discover the world. They can follow their curiosity and find a deeper path of understanding. The important thing is they get to decide the pace of exploration. They can sit and watch, they can follow the Bees, they can explore the world quietly themselves, or they can become part of a buzzing community.” Emily Tomlins, Associate Director and Bees Director.

Collaborative connection

In 2023, Polyglot and The Venny will embark on a two-year partnership, placing the creativity of the young people of Kensington, Flemington and North Melbourne at the heart of a new collaboration. Our extended artistic residency will encompass getting to know the children and community in a way that is safe and enjoyable for all, exchanging knowledge, and most importantly, play. Both organisations bring a deep understanding of what can flourish from a meaningful and truly collaborative process, and this project builds on the connections formed during our Pram People development. A particular access focus of this collaboration is removing economic barriers to engaging with the arts, and providing opportunities to connect with creativity in unexpected places.

This project is supported by the City of Melbourne through the Arts and Creative Investment Partnership fund.

Into the horizon

It has been an immense pleasure to fill our calendar with international touring. We currently have a team at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore, rehearsing our newest show which premieres at March On festival. An immersive theatrical tale, Come Back Home winds through the past and present to seek out a child who went missing a long time ago. Since 2021, artists from Polyglot and the Esplanade have worked together, via remote digital connection, to make a new, participatory experience for and with children.

Another team is en route to Norway, where Polyglot has an exciting partnership with DKS Innlandet (The Cultural Schoolbag) – a program that ensures all students experience professional arts and culture. It is a one-of-a-kind, collaborative project between the national, regional and local levels of the cultural and education sectors, encompassing all schools in Norway. Ants (which will be known as Maur) is being presented as part of the 2023 program in three regions, and Polyglot is working in partnership with Rom for Dans to deliver this work.

International touring was a cornerstone of our annual program pre-COVID, and we are delighted to welcome it back. Sharing our work with audiences all over the world and engaging in cultural exchanges pulls us into new areas of creative exploration and expands our horizons.

Come Back Home by Polyglot Theatre is an Esplanade Commission, co-produced by Polyglot Theatre (Australia) and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (Singapore) in collaboration with artists in both countries. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.