October Education News

“All classes had their own journey to own the space”

This artist reflection from a recent Polyglot workshop report captures the heart of what our education programs aim to achieve: creating spaces where every class — and every child — can shape their own path through creativity.

Polyglot’s curriculum-aligned, in-school experiences invite students into imaginative worlds and discover their unique voice within them. Guided by our experienced artists, children explore how they relate to their environment, build stories that matter to them, and experiment with different ways of expressing ideas.

Feature photo: Wish Street. Sarah Walker.

Sound Shadows

“This is our world.” Student

In Term 3, Polyglot was thrilled to return to Warringa Park School with a Sound Shadows residency, supported through Creative Learning Partnerships — a Victorian Government initiative. This dynamic, ever-changing installation invites student to experiment with responsive projection and sound, reshaping their surroundings through imaginative play.

Highlights of our time together included circle dances, group drumming and singing, and the invention of a brand-new game, ‘Curtain Call’. As more participants joined in, the world they created grew richer and more interconnected — shaped by the movement, ideas, and energy of everyone involved.

In December, the Sound Shadows artists will lead a workshop at Warringa as part of the school’s end-of-year celebration for students and their families.

Photos: Steph O’Hara

When the World Turns: disability inclusive theatres in schools

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

Set within a lush, sensory-rich landscape of living foliage, sound, light, scent, and shadow, the experience invites students and educators to become part of the story itself.

In 2025 so far, we’ve toured When the World Turns to six schools across Victoria. We’re excited to continue sharing this sensory experience with more schools in 2026—welcoming students and educators into moments of joy, imagination, and discovery.

Photos: Suzanne Phoenix

In response to the survey question, “Why are creative arts experiences important in education?” one educator shared: “It unlocks a different area of learning and engagement… You also can see the student in a different light and explore more of their interests through creative arts. Creative arts breaks barriers and encourages self-expression when language is not enough.”

By bringing the production directly into schools, our partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne is breaking down access barriers and ensuring that this work reaches the young people for whom it was designed — those who too often face the greatest obstacles to participation in the arts.

“Exploring different ways children express themselves”

Polyglot is proud to be collaborating with the Centre for Community Child Health (a department of The Royal Children’s Hospital and part of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute) to explore new ways for children to share their voices through creativity and play. So far, our artists and the researchers have worked with children in healthcare and early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, across week-long residencies, using Voice Lab, as well as playful making with paper, tape and drawing.

In a recent workshop report from an ECEC, one artist noted: “Both activities asked the educators to be more theatrical than they usually are… What was wonderful about our time together was that we were able to normalise that experimentation for them and open up new ways for educators to bring this into their classroom practice. Not just in the theatricality of the activity, but also in exploring different ways children express themselves.”

It is wonderful to be part of this important collaboration, celebrating children’s perspectives and the power of creativity in shaping healthier futures.

Photos: Cat Sewell

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.

Polyglot Theatre’s project, Creative Kids Thrive! is supported by VicHealth. This includes our participation in research at community healthcare settings.