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

Paper Planet

Paper Planet is a universally accessible experience that families find utterly captivating.

An indoor Paper Planet production photo. A child with a roll of masking tape on their hand is reaching up towards an orange tissue paper creation.

Children and families are invited into a forest of tall cardboard trees and after exploring the space, they add to this strange and delicate planet using only paper, tape and their imaginations. Theatre and play merge in this magical place, as creatures, plants, costumes, characters, stories and adventures spring to life.

Paper Planet grows as more families visit, and every session is truly unique as imaginations go wild. Children choose how they interact with the performers and with other children; some children find themselves absorbed in quiet making, and others prefer to play and explore.

Paper Planet is child-led, deeply involving and highly sensory, and sure to delight the whole family.

“It was amazing. We felt inspired and safe.” Parent

  • Paper Planet is a universally accessible experience, there is no English language barrier, and it can be entirely non-verbal.
  • Children and families choose how they engage with the performers and the space, moving around as they like.

Paper Planet was originally commissioned by Fed Square and premiered in 2011.

  • 2021: Footscray Community Arts; Abbotsford Convent.
  • 2019: Ottawa Children’s Festival;
    International Children’s Festival of the Arts, Alberta, Canada
  • 2018: Bayside Arena, Minami Sanriku, Japan; Cranbourne Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
  • 2017: Shanghai Children’s Art Theatre; DreamBIG Festival, Adelaide; Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre; Huzhou Grand Theatre.
  • 2016: Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts; Kimmel Center.
  • 2015: New Victory Theater, New York City; Fratz Festival, Berlin; Sands Festival and ASSITEJ Congress, Kristiansand, Norway.
  • 2014: Sommerset Festival, Perth; International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Official Showcase – Pittsburgh; Daejeon Arts & Culture Centre, South Korea.
  • 2013: Darebin Arts Centre; Regional Living Victoria Festival; Regional Arts Victoria – Regional Living Expo.
  • 2012: Arts Centre Melbourne; Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Australia
  • 2011: Federation Square – premiere season.

Watch the trailer

Duration

60-120 mins

Crew

5 x performers
1 x production

Setup

Day 1 bump in, day 2 perform. For international touring, a two-day set up may be required.

Venue

This is a flexible and site-specific work that can be easily adapted. It requires an indoor space, ideally with a high roof.

Capacity

Dependent on venue size and installation design; as a guide, approximately 100 people at any one time. Admission can be free or ticketed.

Booking enquiry
+61 3 9826 3301
  • For these unforgettable experiences you bring to our audiences and for all that you do to promote the art, the entire Children’s Festival owes you its thanks; thanks especially for your professionalism, your passion and enthusiasm.

    Ottawa Children’s Festival

Contact

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