Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is thrilled to announce its annual program for 2024 – an invitation to all to experience the joy – featuring two new works, the hilariously original Pillow Fight, and the superb adaptation of the beloved Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, and the return of the classic original production, Hare Brain, presented at the company’s current home away from home, the Ellie Eaton Theatre at the Claremont Showground.
The Artistic Director of Spare Parts, Philip Mitchell said that 2024 will be a year of magical puppetry and joy that sees the company consolidate its community appeal across metropolitan Perth, and continue touring regional Western Australian, as well as make a long-awaited return to national touring.
“We are looking forward to the New Year and bringing this exciting program of new shows and beloved classics to our audiences of multiple generations,” he said. “We are grateful to be able to continue presenting our mainstage shows at the Ellie Eaton Theatre at the Claremont Showground, and maintain our special ages programming both to early years and seniors at our Fremantle home venue. Additionally, we are excited to continue touring, reaching new audiences across Perth and WA, and at last resume national touring in 2024 with our award-winning puppet musical, The One Who Planted Trees.”
Mitchell said that the program was a celebration for all ages and the bonds that bind us together.
“In 2024, our program is dedicated to celebrating community, family, friendship – the bonds that keep us together and make us stronger,” he said. “Above all, we celebrate the power of imagination and creativity, exploring how it strengthens us as a community by bolstering resilience, inclusion and diverse thinking. Please join us for a fun-filled, heart-warming, and, as ever, jam-packed year of magical puppetry and joy!”
PILLOW FIGHT | Jan 9 – 26 (in theatre now)
Premiering in the summer holidays on January 9, Pillow Fight is a raucous comedy about two siblings locked in a heroic battle to discover who broke Great Grandma’s biscuit barrel. Written by Perth comedy legend Sam Longley (Beanstalk) and directed by Philip Mitchell (The One Who Planted Trees, Blueback), Pillow Fight is the feel-good holiday romp we have all been waiting for. Join the warring siblings, Shane and Nadia, on a jam-packed puppet adventure as they enlist their favourite toys in a hilarious pillow fight for the truth, ultimately learning that though the truth is fragile, the bonds of family are unbreakable.
WILFRID GORDON MCDONALD PARTRIDGE | March 30 – April 12
Premiering in the autumn holidays on March 30, Mem Fox’s beloved book Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is brought to life on stage with beautifully handcrafted, life size puppets, and a special cast of real-life seniors and grandparents recruited from the audience. The Spare Parts directorial debut for Bec Bradley, and created with Michael Barlow (Fox, Miss Lily’s Fabulous Feather Boa), Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a magical celebration of intergenerational friendship that will bring laughter, inspire joy and leave ripples of connectedness in the audience long after the performance.
HARE BRAIN | June 29 – July 13
The perfect winter warmer, high-energy comedy Hare Brain returns to the stage just in time for the mid-year holidays on June 29. Brought to the stage by director, Philip Mitchell and writer Justin Cheek, this modern take on the classic fable of the tortoise and the hare is set in the competitive world of toy marketing, where Harriet and Toulouse are in a race to find the perfect story to fit the perfect toy. Who will win? The considered, gentle storyteller, Toulouse? Or Harriet the brilliant but stressed-out marketing guru from hell? There’s only one way to find out!
WHAT’S ON AT THE SHORT STREET THEATRE
While Spare Parts Puppet Theatre presents this jam-packed program at the Claremont Showgrounds, it will continue to run its community engagement activities at its Short Street home.
Puppet Playtime, the ground-breaking program for 3 to 5 year-olds, will be presented each month from February to November. Lovingly designed for curious minds and busy hands, the program features a different picture book each month and introduces young children to the world of puppetry to encourage curiosity and ignite imagination. Developed in partnership with Telethon Kids Institute, Puppet Playtime helps children develop key skills such as language and communication, fine motor skill, and social-emotional intelligence.
Marionettes and Memories, a free program designed for the seniors in our community, will take place over one week in late January / early February. The program invites seniors to learn about the fascinating history of marionettes, try their own hand at puppeteering, and connect with each other through a simple memory sharing and storytelling activity.
There is something for every member of the family in the 2024 Annual Program. For more information on the 2024 program, activities, special performances, bookings, and how you can experience the joy, please visit sppt.com.au
ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES
John Michael Swinbank
0414 743 418 pr@johnmichael.com.au