Up to 200 students
Adapted by Peta Murray from the book by Tim Winton
One of Tim Winton’s most personal and quintessentially Western Australian stories, Blueback depicts the life of a young boy, Abel, and his mother, their relationship with the environment and their desire to protect and preserve the natural habitat of the place they call home.
Blueback will nourish your heart and the beautiful poetry will resonate with you long after you leave the theatre. This award winning production is an underwater menagerie of exquisite puppetry and an extraordinary celebration of the Western Australian coastline from one of WA’s most beloved authors.
With a focus on the environment and sustainability, this production reminds us all that everyone has the power to make an impact.
Blueback brings a professional Spare Parts Puppet Theatre performance directly to your school. Our touring team arrives, sets up the production in your nominated performance space and presents the show for up to 200 students.
The performance runs for approximately 50 minutes, followed by a 10 minute Q&A with the performers, giving students the chance to ask questions about the story, puppetry and how the production is made.
Schools can also add a hands on puppetry workshop to the visit, with puppet making and Object Theatre workshops available for groups of up to 30 students.
Suitable for Years 1 to 7
English | Science | HASS | The Arts | Ethical Understanding | Sustainability
Literature | Responding to Texts | Imagination and Storytelling | Biological Sciences | Geography | Marine Ecosystems | Environmental Conservation | Human Impact on the Environment | Drama | Music | Identity and Belonging
Touring dates
Terms 3 and 4, 2027
Performance price
$9 per student
Minimum booking of $300
Tour dates are scheduled around our touring route and availability. Complete an Expression of Interest and our team will be in touch to discuss possible dates for your school.
Puppetry workshops
$350 per workshop
Maximum 30 students per worksho
Touring dates
Terms 2 and 3, 2027
Performance price
$7 per student
Minimum booking of $250
Tour dates are scheduled around our touring route and availability. Complete an Expression of Interest and our team will be in touch to discuss possible dates for your school.
Puppetry workshops
$275 per workshop
Maximum 30 students per workshop
To present Blueback safely and effectively, schools will need to provide a suitable indoor or fully undercover performance space.
Suitable spaces may include an undercover area, library, large classroom, lecture theatre or assembly hall. If you are unsure whether your proposed space will work, let us know in your Expression of Interest and our team can discuss the options with you.
Minimum performance space requirements
Interested in bringing Blueback to your school in 2027? Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch to discuss touring availability, your school’s requirements and next steps.
Submitting this form is an expression of interest and does not confirm a booking or tour date. Our team will review your school’s location, availability and requirements and contact you about what may be possible within the 2027 Blueback tour.
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre respectfully acknowledges the Whadjuk Noongar people as the traditional owners and custodians of the unceded land on which we work. As we tour our work across these vast lands, we pay our respect to all First Nations elders, past and present. We celebrate their continuing connection and contribution to culture, country and community, and thank all First Nations peoples for their wisdom in caring for the land, the sky, the rivers and the sea.