Acknowledgment of country

Polyglot acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and create, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. For more than 65,000 years, children and families have created and played here, and we are grateful to make our art on this country too.

Show

Boats

Boats engages children and their families in accessible play that transforms familiar space into something wild, unpredictable and fun.

An outdoor Boats production photo. A performer wearing gumboots and a raincoat rings a bell. To their right, two children run forwards in a bottomless boat-shaped vessel on a tiled concrete pavement.

You will find Boats in the strangest of places – on dry land! Children and their families use their imaginations and small colourful boats to go on exciting, sea-faring adventures across the wide-open oceans of town squares and park lawns. There are islands to visit, stranded crew members to rescue, castaways and seagulls. There are times you might need to dodge sharks and steer through choppy water to safety.

Boats is an energetic experience that can absorb children from 10 minutes to hours and hours. Some may wish to rock in calm waters and tell adventure stories; others may wish to zoom around and explore. Children choose how they interact with the Harbourmaster, the crew and the landscape, making this a fun, shared family time that everyone can enjoy.

  • Boats is an energetic experience. Children and families choose how they interact with the performers and the landscape.
  • Conceived and directed: Sue Giles
  • Creative team: Michael Baxter, Mischa Long, Glen Walton, Rainbow Sweeny, Jacob Williams
  • Original cast: Christian Bagin, Christy Flaws, Lachlan MacLeod, Jacob Williams
  • 2020 re-design: Hannah Murphy
  • Producer: Rainbow Sweeny

Boats was originally commissioned by Fed Square and premiered in 2015.

2023

  • Australian Wooden Boat Festival, Hobart, TAS, Australia

2022

  • Wyndham City Children’s Week Picnic, VIC, Australia

2021

  • Arts Centre Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Cairns Children’s Festival, Queensland, Australia

2019

  • Without Walls Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, USA
  • Warrandyte Festival, Victoria, Australia

2017 

  • Octoburst! Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, Singapore
  • Darebin Community and Kite Festival, Victoria, Australia
  • Kids ArtyFarty Fest, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
  • Down by the River Festival, Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia

2016 

  • Geelong City Council, Victoria, Australia

2015

  • Premiere: Fed Square, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Watch the trailer

Duration

60-120 mins (variable)

Crew

4 x performers
1 x production

Setup

Bump in and perform on same day.

Venue

Boats does not have spatial boundaries and works well in large public spaces (both indoors and outdoors). Participants can come and go as they like.

Capacity

Unlimited – conducted in open public space; admission unticketed.

Booking enquiry
+61 3 9826 3301
  • Boats was very well received by our festival attendees and it was a delight to work with Polyglot Theatre again.

    La Jolla Playhouse, Without Walls Festival

  • You never fail to impress me with your professionalism, ability to adapt, creativity and approachability. It really is always a pleasure.

    Arts Centre Melbourne

Contact

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