September E-News

Whirlwind – a bold new production

We’re thrilled to announce the premiere season of our brand-new theatrical play space: Whirlwind. This bold production, presented by Melbourne Fringe and supported by Museums Victoria, will take place at the Immigration Museum, 18-19 October.

Whirlwind is an energetic experience, designed for children ages 5-11 and their families. Filled with recycled and discarded paper and fabric, the performance space is animated by many fans and many hands. Detritus reimagined. The air sweeps and swirls, children dance, and ideas whirl. Join Polyglot performers in hilarious and moving creative play, powered by you!

Whirlwind. Photos: Sarah Walker.

Polyglot on tour

“Can we go again that was my favourite thing ever.” Child, Paper Planet, Brighton Town Hall

Paper Planet premiered in 2011 at Fed Square, with our forest of tall cardboard trees first growing in The Edge. 14 years later, it remains one of Polyglot’s most beloved touring productions. It has reached more than 90,000 people in nine countries, with 81% of seasons providing free access for audiences.  

L: Paper Planet. Photo: Sarah Walker. R: Paper Planet. Photo: Ai Ueda

In July, a school holiday season was presented by Bayside City Council at Brighton Town Hall, captivating more than 1,200 children and families. A Polyglot team then made their way to Yumeshima, Japan, for World Expo 2025 Osaka. In collaboration with NPO Acchi Cocchi, who we have worked with since 2015, we delivered free, drop-in Paper Planet workshops at the Australia Pavilion. Polyglot was honoured to be part of the cohort of companies and artists showcasing our national creativity at such a prestigious global event.

Paper Planet workshops. Photos courtesy of The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Later this month, Paper Planet will tour to Aotearoa, where it is being presented by Auckland Live for the inaugural We The Young festival. In the October school holidays, we’ll welcome local children and families into the forest at Glenroy Community Hub, with a free season presented by Merri-bek City Council. Simultaneously, children and families in Nipaluna/Hobart will have the opportunity to create and play among the trees, with Theatre Royal presenting a season at City Hall. This will also be accompanied by a day of free Bees performances at the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery (TMAG).

Rumba Cafe

Our 2025 Kids Collaboration with Rumbalara Football Netball Club marked the ninth year of our partnership. Across creative play and making workshops, facilitated in the Club rooms on home Game Days, the children developed Rumba Café. They made hand-painted teapots, cups and tablecloths, blended their own teas, shared stories and songs, and wrote menus.

At the final home Game Day of the season, children, families, community members, Elders, and Polyglot artists and staff came together for a joyful Grand Opening. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony and speeches, the kids prepared fantastical culinary creations in their cardboard and paper kitchen, serving visiting adults. The Listening Lounge offered an opportunity to hear the children’s stories in their own words, gathered over the season. Special t-shirts and tea towels carried the memories home.

Polyglot & Rumbalara Kids Collaboration. Photos: Lexie Wood.

This celebration was a powerful testament to the enduring strength of our art-meets-sport collaboration with Rumbalara. Polyglot is deeply grateful for our nine years of creative play together, and we’re excited for our 10th anniversary in 2026. Yakama Rumba!

Arts-Health

Polyglot Theatre is proud to be partnering with the Centre for Community Child Health, which is both a department of The Royal Children’s Hospital and a research group of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Together, we are exploring new ways to support 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 settings using Voice Lab, as well as playful making with paper, tape and drawing.

Arts-Health. Photos: Cat Sewell.

Thank You

Whirlwind was developed with support from Melbourne Fringe and The Robert Salzer Foundation. The premiere season has been Fringe Funded, as part of XS, with thanks to Daniel Besen, and Rupert Myer AO and Annabel Myer, and supported by Museums Victoria. It has been made more accessible with support from Access Fringe.

Polyglot was supported by the Australian Government as part of Australia’s participation in World Expo 2025 Osaka.

Polyglot’s Auckland tour has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

Polyglot Theatre’s project, Creative Kids Thrive! is supported by VicHealth. This includes our 2025 Kids Collaboration with Rumbalara, and our participation in research at community healthcare settings.