September Education News

“Creativity, sensitivity and sense of magic”

“Creative arts allow children to express themselves, no matter what level of learning or development they are at. It promotes freedom of expression and allows for children to feel pride in their work.” Educator, on the importance of creative arts experiences in education.

Polyglot’s curriculum-aligned in-school programs inspire children to explore their imaginative potential. Our experienced artists facilitate each child’s understanding of their place and power in the worlds they are helping create, whether it is building a personal narrative, or using their senses to engage in the environment around them.

When the World Turns: disability inclusive theatre in schools

“The creativity, sensitivity and sense of magic from your performers has been inspiring.” Educator

We are so proud that Polyglot Theatre’s partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne to share When the World Turns in Victorian specialist schools has been recognised with a PAC Australia IMPACT Award! 

When the World Turns, our collaboration across time and distance with Oily Cart (UK), commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne, is a fantastical theatrical experience specifically for young people with complex disability and their adults. In a wondrous landscape of living foliage, through sound, light, scents and shadows, students and educators are invited to become part of a wild place of the senses.

The partnership between Polyglot and Arts Centre Melbourne achieves new levels of accessibility by taking the production directly to the young people with and for whom it was made; those who often face the greatest access barriers.

We are deeply grateful to the more than 1000 students and educators who have participated in the show with such joy this year, and we look forward to the schools still to come.

“This show reminds us all why we do what we do.” Educators

Feature photo: Rainbow Sweeny

Cubbyhood

‘It was fantastic to see ways in which children’s play can be celebrated and how powerful it can be.’ Educator

Cubbyhood is a playful, creative project with children that investigates the experience of home, family and community from their perspective. In immersive multi-day workshops with Polyglot artists, children explore storytelling and play through space-making. Together they build cardboard cubbies with windows that show who and what is important to them.

This year, Polyglot has been supported through the Maribyrnong City Council Community Grants Program to deliver Cubbyhood in five local kindergartens: Clare Court, Saltwater, North Maidstone, Braybrook and Billy Button. The workshops culminated in a special display of the children’s drawings at Braybrook Library; an opportunity for the wider Maribyrnong community to enjoy the curious, insightful record of their collective imaginings and reflections.

Photos L-R: Ashlee Hughes, Suzanne Phoenix

Paper Planet

Recently, Paper Planet made a joyous return to Broadmeadows Special Developmental School. This sensory play space, filled with tall cardboard trees, encourages practical explorations of character, narrative, and design. Performances unexpectedly happen as simple materials meet creative freedom.

Highlights from our week at Broadmeadows included: “a glorious, very long-legged spider” which was proudly taken home by the creator; dancing with the flying jellyfish; making takeaway goanna dinners in the cave (password required to enter); fanning the king of the waterfall; and a group of young people fitting paper boots, inspired by their dad’s work boots.

Photos: Lexie Wood

Voice Lab

“Thank you for letting me tell you my feelings because I don’t really have much space to do that in the classroom.” Child, age 10.

Voice Lab is Polyglot’s creative installation module for collecting the thoughts and opinions of children. It provides participants with an unmediated space, away from their peers, teachers, parents and carers, where they can express themselves without inhibition.

Voice Lab operates in two modes: the original physical dome, and online. In both, children have a conversation with Voice Lab – a voice driven by a concealed live performer that asks questions, encourages opinion and regards the child as the expert. This immersive experience is a unique consultation tool for listening to children in a noisy world. It offers quiet, safety, comfort and confidence, allowing children to sit with their thoughts and understand that their opinions have value.

Photos: Theresa Harrison

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 2024 schools tour is further supported by Arts Centre Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Education Strategic Partnerships Program, a Bank of Melbourne Foundation Community Grant, Dr John Leaper OAM and Mrs Jenny Leaper OAM, Mr Mark Robertson OAM and Mrs Anne Robertson, Mr John Barlow, Maureen and Tony Wheeler, and Ian and Simone Carson. Polyglot thanks our ongoing plant sponsor ecoDynamics and SÜK Workwear.