- World premiere of Level Up!, an action-packed new puppet show about friendship, gaming and growing up.
- Written and directed by Yvan Karlsson, award-winning Perth theatre maker making his directorial debut with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.
- Runs Monday 6 April – Saturday 18 April at Centenary Pavilion, Claremont Showground, with performances at 10am and 1pm daily.
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is thrilled to announce the world premiere of Level Up!, an electrifying new production exploring friendship, gaming and what it means to grow up in the digital age, opening this April at the Centenary Pavilion, Claremont Showground.
Level Up! follows two children who escape real-life worries by teaming up inside the latest video game, ‘Z’. As they battle through challenges to conquer every level, they grow closer, until the game itself begins to test their bond and forces them to decide what’s more important – their friendship or winning.
An action-packed performance, each new level introduces a different gaming world and puppetry style. Across the 50-minute show, the performers bring more than 80 puppets and props to life, spanning traditional marionettes and hand puppets through to larger contemporary designs.
Artistic Director of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Philip Mitchell, said the production is a vital exploration of the pull between real and virtual worlds.
“While the story takes place inside a high-stakes video game, at its heart the work is about feeling connected in this sometimes challenging and exciting world of technology,” Philip said. “It explores how we juggle friendships and relationships in a world full of screens. It’s a fun, action-packed show full of exquisitely crafted puppets.”
Director and writer Yvan Karlsson makes his directorial debut with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. A long-time collaborator with the company, Yvan first joined Spare Parts through its FirstHand Emergent Puppetry Artist Program in 2015 and debuted as a performer in SPLAT! in 2016.
For Yvan, the show is grounded in his own experience with online gaming.
“Level Up! is an action-packed tribute to both the games I grew up with and the ones young people are playing today,” Yvan said. “In a time where online play is being heavily scrutinised, I wanted to show what healthy play in a virtual world can look like. The same kind that has kept me and my brother connected over long distances to this day. Taking all these ideas and simultaneously showcasing what puppetry can achieve has been an incredible experience.”
Yvan’s previous works include The Lucky Cat and the award-winning Hell Is Other People, which won ‘Outstanding New Work’ and ‘Best Independent Production’ at the Performing Arts WA Awards. He has also performed internationally, playing ‘Sven’ in Disney’s Frozen The Musical in Australia, Singapore and Germany.
The production brings together a talented creative team, including Lucy Wong in her first mainstage appearance with Spare Parts, alongside Tristan McInnes (Miss Lily’s Fabulous Feather Boa, 2021), designer Leon Hendroff with his signature playful art style, and composer Tao Issaro with a dynamic, gaming-inspired score.
Running from Monday 6 April to Saturday 18 April, Level Up! is the ultimate school holiday outing for kids, families and anyone who’s ever said ‘just one more level!’.
Tickets for Level Up! are available here.
All media enquiries to
Grant Watson media@sppt.com.au
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Monday 6 April – Saturday 18 April 2026
10am & 1pm daily, no Sunday performances
Centenary Pavilion, Claremont Showground, Claremont WA 6010
Tickets: $29 | Suitable for ages 5+
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Director/Writer: Yvan Karlsson
Performers: Lucy Wong, Tristan McInnes
Designer: Leon Hendroff
Design Assistant: Nikita Bernardo
Composer & Sound Designer: Tao Issaro
Lighting Designer: Peter Young
AV Designer: Mark Haslam
Mentor: Michael Barlow
Voiceover Artists: St John Cowcher & Izzy McDonald