Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is thrilled to announce its annual program for 2025 – A Year of Adventure —a spellbinding lineup of imaginative productions for all ages in Perth, as well as expanded metropolitan, state, and national touring.
Highlights include the world premiere of the out-of-this-world puppet musical Hometown, a stunning adaptation of The Little Prince, and the return of the award-winning comedy Beanstalk at the Ellie Eaton Theatre at the Claremont Showground. The company’s latest puppet spectacular The Whale receives its national premiere at the Sydney Festival.
Artistic Director of Spare Parts, Philip Mitchell said that the 2025 program—A Year of Adventure—was a celebration of adventure, curiosity, and self-discovery.
“We are excited to bring new works and timeless classics to our audiences with premieres spanning Australia—from the spectacular puppetry installation The Whale at Sydney Festival to the enchanting puppet musical, Hometown at our Claremont Showground main stage,” he said.
The company’s groundbreaking early years program, Puppet Playtime, and unique seniors program Marionettes and Memories at Fremantle, are also set for expansion in 2025.
Mitchell emphasised the program’s commitment to sharing stories that connect and inspire audiences across generations.
“We are so pleased to continue sharing stories that resonate with all ages, especially through our programming for early years and seniors at our Fremantle home venue, while also reaching new audiences throughout Perth and WA” he said.
“This year celebrates the power of imagination and storytelling, fostering curiosity, empathy, and joy across generations. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or part of the three generations of families who have shared the joy of a Spare Parts experience, we invite you to join us on a magical adventure in 2025!”
WHAT’S ON AT THE ELLIE EATON THEATRE, CLAREMONT SHOWGROUND
Premiering this summer and on now until January 25, Hometown is an unforgettable puppet musical based on a story by acclaimed Western Australian graphic novelist Shaun Tan. We follow a girl on her adventure to discover who she is and where her home is. Directed by Philip Mitchell and devised by the team who brought the award-winning puppet musical The One Who Planted Trees, Hometown is a magical experience of superb puppetry and extraordinary music, which reminds us all that home is where the heart is.
Opening on April 12, this classic puppetry adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s timeless story is one of Spare Parts’ most beloved productions and a perfect family outing for the autumn holidays. The Little Prince mesmerises children and adults alike with its tale of a prince who travels through the stars to arrive on Earth. Adapted by Simon Clarke from the famous book and directed by Michael Barlow, this heartfelt tale reveals a child’s view of the world, a boundless curiosity, glorious joys and one or two absurd grown-ups. The Little Prince is an adventure story that celebrates the things that give our lives meaning and is one of the most profoundly joyous journeys in the company’s repertoire.
With a “Fee-fi-fo-fum,” Spare Parts Puppet Theatre roars into the winter holidays with the hilarious original show about giants, magical beans and fake news! Performed and written by Perth comedy legend Sam Longley, Beanstalk is a wacky take on the classic fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk told from the giant’s point of view. Standing over two metres himself, Longley is perfectly cast as the giant, Brian, who is very keen to tell you his side of the famous story, and the real truth about what happened when that ‘rascal’ Jack raided Brian’s magical kitchen-garden in the clouds. Beanstalk opens on July 5.
WHAT’S ON AT THE SHORT STREET THEATRE, FREMANTLE
While Spare Parts Puppet Theatre presents the jam-packed 2025 program at the Claremont Showgrounds, it will continue to base its community engagement activities, such as Puppet Playtime and Marionettes and Memories from its Fremantle home opposite the train station.
In 2025, this ground-breaking program for 3 to 5 year-olds, will be expanded with more sessions each month from February to November, a Perth metropolitan and WA regional tour, and a new mainstage production for early years, Reach for the Sky, premiering in January 2026.
Directed by Kylie Bywaters and supported by Principal Program Partner Minderoo Foundation Puppet Playtime is lovingly designed for curious minds and busy hands. Each month a different picture book is featured and introduces young children to the world of puppetry to encourage curiosity and ignite imagination. Puppet Playtime helps children develop key skills such as language and communication, fine motor skill, and social-emotional intelligence. Developed in collaboration with The Kids Research Institute Australia, each session focuses on an aspect of social-emotional wellbeing,
Marionettes and Memories is a specially designed program for seniors in our community, with tickets priced at just $10. 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. Sessions will take place across two days in March (5 and 6) with more sessions planned in November during Seniors Week.
TOURING
In 2025 Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is set to take its productions far and wide, reaching audiences across the country. The hilarious Beanstalk will tour nationally, while regional WA will enjoy the delightful Pillow Fight and ever-popular sessions of Puppet Playtime.
The company’s new Festival and Event work, The Whale, will make waves in Sydney, Busselton, Karratha, and beyond, while The Last Numbat also tours to Victoria.
And this is just the beginning – keep an eye out for news of further tours throughout the year!
In 2025 – A Year of Adventure – there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Don’t miss out!
ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES
John Michael Swinbank
0414 743 418 pr@johnmichael.com.au