Polyglot’s May e-news

“We love how live art inspires us, challenges us and makes us feel!”

Bees premiered at Abbotsford Convent in the first week of the April school holidays, and we welcomed almost 850 people into a world of community, wonder and imagination across the season. Experiencing our newest work coming to life in the beautiful Heritage Garden was so exciting, and we loved seeing how children responded. When asked how they felt during Bees, one family wrote: “Engaged, surprised, mesmerized.”

The Bees then made their way to the Rural City of Wangaratta for another free school holiday season. This was the first tour for this work, and Polyglot’s first regional tour since May 2021. The artists loved being on the road again, and we received a very warm welcome. “It’s great when Wangaratta puts on shows like this… Also, free is wonderful! I loved watching my children play with the Bees.”

Further afield, Ants was presented by the La Jolla Playhouse 2022 Without Walls Festival in San Diego across 23-24 April. We worked in partnership with Inlet Dance Theatre to deliver this season, and it was a pleasure to delight all the families who came along and assisted the Ants with their crumbs.

Polyglot is currently seeking Expressions of Interest for a two-week paid production residency in June. This is an opportunity for an emerging theatre-maker to experience our creative process in action, and gain a deeper understanding of what is involved in developing a new, participatory show for families. Applications close 12 May, 5pm. For more information and to apply, please visit polyglot.org.au/production-residency-eoi-2022

Our Kids Collaboration with Rumbalara Football Netball Club continues with Rumba Shop! Polyglot artists were at the home game on Saturday 23 April, having a ball constructing and playing with children and parents in the famous Club rooms. Through these sessions, the kids will contribute to the design discussions of the soon to be built Munarra Cultural Centre. We’re crossing our fingers for a trampoline floor at the very least! Rumba Shop! is supported by the Newsboys Foundation.

LINK is our ongoing creative collaboration with the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore. Artistic teams in both countries are working with local families, early learning centres and schools, and then together online, to develop a participatory performance experience for children. Sue Giles and Katrina Gaskell recently delved into a design development, culminating in a day of testing sessions at Spensley Street Primary School.

“2021 was full of activity and stillness, utter joy and hardship, community and isolation; it was a year of great learning and creative expression.” Briony Farrell, artist. 2021, for all its challenges, was a year of great achievement and a source of pride for all of us at Polyglot. Our Annual Report provides an overview of our activity, and is now available here: polyglot.org.au/about-us/annual-reports

“I am so appreciative of the opportunity to see this show free of charge. Having four grandchildren in total is sometimes cost prohibitive and so these opportunities are so valuable to us as grandparents. Thank you so much.” Free and low-cost arts events – those that are most accessible for children and families – are not possible without the support of our governments: local, state and federal. Participation in the arts strengthens childrens’ capacity, from their mental health to school engagement, creative thinking, their social connection and sense of belonging, confidence and literacy. To read more and share your thoughts, visit polyglot.org.au/world-day-of-theatre-2022