Photo credit:
WELCOME TO 2025
2025 will be the 10th Education season I have programmed here at Riverside Theatres. Since 2015, our program has evolved, shaped by you - the teachers - along with your amazing students and has grown and thrived thanks to your support.
In 2025 we continue to grow, and as part of that growth we’re breaking down barriers and coming to YOU for the first time! We’re bringing you a fantastic in-schools First Nations theatre piece with the talented team at Shock Therapy Arts. We’re also on the cutting-edge of arts experiences, bringing you a unique immersive audio experience which can be done in your very own classrooms.
And as usual, we have a curriculum-linked high quality in-theatre season of performances and other arts experiences that will engage and inspire your students - select from from exciting adaptations of classics and beloved picture books to performances utilising high tech-interactive technology.
We’re covering important issues like what consent means, exploring exciting new dramatic forms like gig theatre, and bringing you compelling stories from diverse communities such as displaced families and children residing in Australia’s detention centres.
And please take advantage of our ‘on-demand’ workshop and cinema programs. We can cater a workshop or screen a film to suit your particular needs. Just ask us! 2025 is an exciting year and we’re looking forward to sharing it with you.
See you at the theatre - AND in your school!
AMY MATTHEWS Senior Producer –Education & Communities
Scan the QR codes in this brochure to access Education Resources, Curriculum Links and further information about the venues.
More information can also be found on our website: riversideparramatta.com.au/education
WHY BOOK WITH RIVERSIDE?
Riverside Theatres delivers one of Australia’s largest curated theatre education programs in Australia. Our shows are carefully chosen by recognised industry experts to deliver quality live performances for young people. Each selection is curated with you and your students in mind to bring you the best in-theatre education experiences.
8 Great reasons teachers love Riverside!
High Quality, Engaging Performances
Engage and inspire your students
Our Program is BIG
This means our staff are highly experienced in dealing with school groups - we know and cater to your needs.
A Dedicated Education Booking Officer
They know how schools work and are ready to listen and offer advice.
The Resources to Plan Your Excursion
Risk assessments, theatre etiquette guides, social stories and key logistical information.
Accessibility
We have access initiatives such as relaxed performances and access points, and a dedicated producer for access so we can cater to you, your students and any specific needs.
Ticket Subsidies
For schools with students from low-socio economic backgrounds (just ask!).
Flexible
Payment Terms
To reduce your financial risk, we'll work with you on what payment terms work best for you.
Early
Bird Tickets
Book your schools promptly to lock in early bird pricing on selected shows.
ACCESS & INCLUSION
Riverside Theatres is committed to making our performances accessible for all students and teachers. We offer a range of accessible services throughout our Education program.
ACCESS POINTS
Access points are indicators that let you know aspects of a production that may provide groups with a higher level of engagement related to their needs. There are 5 access points. These are marked on each production page.
Interactive Performance: High levels of audience interaction creating a less formal environment and requiring less ‘passive’ attention by audience members.
Language: Easy
The text or dialogue used in this production is limited or simple.
Language: None
No text or dialogue is used in this performance.
Music:
This production has a strong music focus.
Visual Cues: This production has strong visual cues giving students a different reference point for comprehension of the narrative or subject matter.
WHEELCHAIR AND LEVEL ACCESS
Riverside offers level access and space for wheelchairs in all venues. Please let us know if you need level access or a wheelchair space at the time of your booking.
HEARING SYSTEM
Riverside offers an FM-based assistive hearing system in all three venues to support audiences who are deaf or have a hearing impairment. The system provides options such as single-ear earpieces, neck loops that can connect to telecoil hearing aids, or standard headphones to amplify sound from the stage.
AUDIO DESCRIPTION
Select performances are audio described for blind or low vision audiences by providing a narration that provides detailed information and descriptions of the visual elements of a performance. This includes actions, expressions, gestures, sequences, costumes, and scenery.
TACTILE (SENSORY) TOURS
Held prior to a performance, Tactile Tours are an access initiative arranged specifically for students or teachers who are blind or have low vision.
Students and teachers are introduced to the stage space and some of the physical elements of the set, props and costumes in the show. Tours are particularly relevant for productions being audio described.
AUSLAN INTERPRETATION
Some productions are selected to be interpreted using Australian Sign Language (Auslan). This provides an opportunity for students and teachers who are Deaf to access the show. The aural cues that are essential to the storytelling and the theatrical experience are translated into sign language. Auslan interpreters are discreetly positioned for comfortable viewing by Deaf audiences.
RELAXED PERFORMANCES
Select performances are offered as relaxed performances and are open to all. These sensory-friendly performances feature dimmed house lights, allow audiences to move freely in and out of the theatre, and provide sound adjustments to create a more comfortable environment for those with sensory sensitivities.
SOCIAL STORIES, MEET & GREETS AND SPECIAL SEATING REQUESTS
Upon request, we may be able to provide other services other than those listed, to help make your visit more comfortable. These could include arranging a meet your seat or meet and greet with the cast, to allow your group time to become familiar with their surroundings. With notification, arrangements can be made for you to be seated early or near to an exit as an additional support measure.
Download a copy of our social stories for the theatres at Riverside here: riversideparramatta.com.au/your-visit/accessibility-inclusion
Please contact our Education team with your access requirements or requests once you have completed the online booking. Note that some of these initiatives will require up to 8 weeks notice - but contact us at any time to see how we can help.
Ratburger
Photo Credit: Peter Wallis
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS A CDP KIDS PRODUCTION
DAVID WALLIAMS'
RATBURGER
A PLAY BY MARYAM MASTER BASED ON THE BESTSELLING BOOK
DATES & TIMES
Tue 8 Apr at 12:30pm
Wed 9 Apr at 10am & 12:30pm
Thu 10 Apr at 10am & 12:30pm
DURATION
1 hour
PRICE
$31 per student/teacher
CURRICULUM LINKS
English, Drama
ACCESS POINTS
Join Zoe and her dancing pet rat Dapper in this hilarious action-packed adventure!
Her stepmother Sheila is so lazy she gets Zoe to pick her nose for her. The school bully Tina Trotts makes her life a misery – mainly by spitting on her head. And now the evil Burt from Burt’s Burgers is after her pet rat! And guess what he wants to do with it?
The clue is in the title…
The team behind The 13-, 26-, 52-, 78- and 91-Storey Treehouses, Mr Stink and The Midnight Gang bring David Walliams’ screamingly funny Number One bestselling book to life on stage.
Illustrations (c) Tony Ross 2014
Looking for Alibrandi, Belvoir Season 2022
Photo Credit: Daniel Boud
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS
AN AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PRODUCTION
THE PRINCESS, THE PEA (AND THE BRAVE ESCAPEE)
AN ORIGINAL PLAY BY FINEGAN KRUCKEMEYER WITH MUSIC BY BRYONY MARKS
DATES & TIMES
Wed 30 Apr at 10:30am & 12pm
Thu 1 May at 10:30am & 12pm
Fri 2 May at 10:30am
DURATION
35 minutes followed by a Q&A PRICE
$31 per student
CURRICULUM LINKS
English, Creative
Arts-Music, Drama
ACCESS POINTS
In a clever and creative reimagining of this much-loved fairytale, audiences will meet Isabella, a princess who’s life is grand and loud, but who notices the small things, and longs to be somewhere else.
This stunning production is perfect for audiences of all ages who need a reminder that they can be brave, even if they feel scared of the unknown. A sophisticated and immersive work that will introduce your youngest audiences to the joys of live music and theatre.
Written by award-winning playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer (Magic Beach, Are We There Yet?), with an original score by Bryony Marks (Barracuda, Summer Heights High), and directed by Tim McGarry (There’s a Sea in My Bedroom, Boy Swallows Universe).
Photo credit: Maria Boyadgis
RIVERSIDE THEATRES AND SPORT FOR JOVE THEATRE PRESENTS
MACBETH
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTED BY GEORGE BANDERS
DATES & TIMES
Wed 30 Apr at 11:30am
Thu 1 May at 10:30am
Fri 2 May at 10am
Mon 5 May at 10am
Tue 6 May at 10:30am
Wed 7 May at 1pm
Thu 8 May at 10am
Fri 9 May at 11:30am & 7:00pm
DURATION
1 hour 50 minutes followed by a Q&A PRICE
$33 per student/teacher CURRICULUM LINKS Drama, English
"What's done cannot be undone"
An unexpected prophecy at the close of a devastating war sends a national hero and his brilliant wife on a feverish and murderous quest for absolute power. With startlingly beautiful language, Shakespeare’s revered tragedy tears open the thin fabric between the temporal and magical worlds. This muscular, contemporary production looks at today’s world through Macbeth’s eyes – an epoch where double speak is rife, where violence is a modern ecstasy and true loyalty is our most valuable commodity.
Shakespeare combines Scottish and English history with Greek myth to one simple end – to capture what it is to be human. What happens to us when we sacrifice our humanity to get ahead? We live in such a time, an unprecedented era that idolises fame and celebrity above leadership and morality. In such a time and place, perhaps even nature begins to fight back.
A boldly imaginative, fully contemporary and brand-new production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth from Sport for Jove that is true to the text and full of engaging revelations, a wonderful experience for students and teachers.
Photo Credit: Dowling & Dowling Design
RIVERSIDE THEATRES AND SPORT FOR JOVE THEATRE PRESENTS
THE TEMPEST/HAG-SEED SYMPOSIUM
DATES & TIMES
Fri 2 May at 1:30pm
DURATION
2 hours 30 minutes
including performance, analysis, discussion and brief interval
PRICE
$33 per student/teacher
CURRICULUM LINKS
Drama, English
“…be not afeard, the isle is full of noises…”
One of Shakespeare's truly original and most personal plays, The Tempest is a symphonic vision of forgiveness, discovery and selfdiscovery. Famous for its language, context, enchanting characters and breathtaking theatricality, the play is a reflection of the world's most famous playwright at the height of his powers and at the end of his remarkable career.
This tempest is not only in Prospero – the storm lies in the contradictions and ambiguities the story throws up about freedom and slavery, civilisation and barbarism, legacy and letting go, lust and chastity, youth and age, revenge and forgiveness. The sea is a place of transformation but also represents the capriciousness of nature, chaos, or fate.
Sport for Jove will unpick the play with students through live performance and analysis, and direct contrast and comparison with Margaret Atwood's Hag-seed in this unmissable performance symposium.
Photo credit: Seiya Taguchi
RIVERSIDE THEATRES AND SPORT FOR JOVE THEATRE PRESENTS
THE CRUCIBLE SYMPOSIUM
BY ARTHUR MILLER
DATES & TIMES
Mon 5 May at 1:30pm Wed 7 May at 9:30am
DURATION
2 hours 30 minutes including performance, analysis, discussion and brief interval PRICE
$33 per student/teacher CURRICULUM LINKS Drama, English
An intensive & detailed performance symposium on the play offering a rich opportunity for students to meet the characters, look beneath the play – at its language, characters, form & theatricality.
The Crucible, Arthur Miller's parable of mass hysteria, is a portrait of the ordinary evils latent in any society, of mindless, hysterical persecution through ignorance, fear of 'otherness', and our capacity to serve ourselves above all others, making it one of the world's most transcendent and important stories, in any age.
Damien Ryan's intensive and detailed performance symposium on the play offers a rich opportunity for students to meet the characters, look beneath the play – at its language, characters, form, and theatricality – and discuss the big ideas with professional actors who have a long relationship with the play.
What does it mean to us now? Come and join the conversation. After all, we can stand back from these puritanical thinkers and feel safe from their ignorant, outdated superstitions and prejudices, but Miller's very successful point is that we just can't. The belief systems and modes of persecution might change, but the ignorance and willingness to hurt each other do not.
The Crucible illustrates these things at personal, familial, judicial, and political levels, and asks actors to give everything they have to tell it.
Photo credit: Seiya Taguchi
RIVERSIDE THEATRES AND SPORT FOR JOVE THEATRE PRESENTS
OTHELLO SYMPOSIUM
DATES & TIMES
Thu 8 May at 1:30pm
DURATION
2 hours 30 minutes including performance, analysis, discussion and brief interval PRICE
$33 per student/teacher CURRICULUM LINKS Drama, English
A must-see symposium for high school students. Damien Ryan has worked on Othello for nearly 30 years. Don't miss this opportunity to join him and a group of exceptional actors as they unlock the story, characters, dramatic structure, themes, and theatricality of this powerful Shakespearean tragedy through scene-work and analysis live on stage.
Photo credit: Seiya Taguchi
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS
LUCAS PROUDFOOT
PROUDFOOT & FRIENDS
DATES & TIMES
Tue 20 May at 11am
Wed 21 May at 10:15am
Wed 21 May at 12:30pm
DURATION
45 minutes
PRICE
$26 per student/teacher
CURRICULUM LINKS
English, Music, Geography, Drama
ACCESS POINTS
Get ready for the foot-stomping, rib-tickling, toe-tapping time of your life at the Proudfoot & Friends stage show spectacular!
Join award-winning children’s performer Lucas Proudfoot on stage with his guitar, stomp box, didgeridoo and a cast of unforgettable characters on a non-stop musical adventure around Pelican Bay.
You’ll meet wise, respected elder Aunty May, cheeky best friends Ned and Sis’ and all their magical animal friends, like Hopa-tee-woo Kangaroo, Boompa-tee-moo Emu, Big-Gulp Pelican and everyone’s favourite Ruby the Frog! But watch out for Cane Toad Bill and Fruit Bat Charlie from Smelly Mud Swamp – those shady characters are always up to no good…
Photo Credit: Andro Engelbrecht
Friday 23
Friday 23
Friday 23
Join
Join us for an engaging and educational journey into the world of literature, designed to inspire the next generation of readers and storytellers.
The Primary School Days program is best suited to Years 3–6.
The Primary School Days program is best suited to Years 3–6.
Join us for an engaging and educational journey into the world of literature, designed to inspire the next generation of readers and storytellers. The Primary School Days program is best suited to Years 3–6.
TICKETS
$29
TICKETS
$29
TICKETS
$29
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS
SHORT SHARP THEATRE
DATES & TIMES
Heats: 26 - 30 May
Finals: 6 Jun
DURATION
2 hours including an interval
PRICE
Registration Fee $70 per entry
Entries close 11 Apr 2025
CURRICULUM LINKS
Drama, English
Sharp Short Theatre is Riverside Theatres' beloved youth short play competition, now in its 10th year! This annual event has become a highlight for Riverside Theatres, schools, and students alike.
Students aged 18 and under take on the roles of writers, directors, and performers, all under the guidance of professional mentors and technicians. Selected pieces will be showcased in a heat, and the standout performances will advance to the finals, where industry professionals will award prizes in categories such as best script, best direction, best performance, and best overall production. Prizes include masterclasses, theatre tickets, exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, and much more to help nurture their talents!
Each play must be 10 minutes or shorter and can span any theatrical genre, allowing students to explore their creativity, express their ideas, and unleash their imaginations! Join us in supporting our future stars as they shine on the Riverside stage!
Photo Credit: Grant Leslie
SECONDARY STUDENT PRICING
Can't arrange an excursion?
We're excited to be offering secondary student pricing exclusively for high school students even when attending without a school group - prices start as low as $31!
No need to organise an excursion, buses, or paperwork - no school administration required. Students can simply book their ticket online and bring a parent or guardian along.
This affordable offer is available for both evening and weekend performances, so they can enjoy theatre on their own schedule.
Shows available include Yes Yes Yes (pg 20), The Trojan War (pg 21), Looking for Alibrandi (pg 23), 1984 (pg 25), and Trophy Boys (pg 27).
The special secondary student tickets can be booked via our website (select 'Secondary Student' price). Students will need to present a student card to gain entry. Note: accompanying teachers/guardians will need to purchase standard priced tickets. Check our website regularly as other shows may become available throughout the year.
Photo Credit: Daniel Boud
EBKM PRESENTS
YES YES YES
BY ELEANOR BISHOP & KARIN MCCRACKEN
DATES & TIMES
Tue 27 May at 10am & 7pm
Wed 28 May at 10am & 1pm
DURATION
1 hour followed by a Q&A PRICE
$31 per student/teacher CURRICULUM LINKS
PDHPE, Drama
“...funny, thoughtful and entirely relatable....I can't recommend this highly enough; it should be a must for teens and their caregivers.” – NZ Herald
Jamie and Ari like each other. Karin and Tom do too.
They might be at two separate parties, but their stories are identical. Until they really aren’t.
Part documentary, part confession, part open conversation, Yes Yes Yes is a theatre show created specifically for young adults. Exploring the knotty and necessary topics of healthy relationships, desire and consent, it blends audience interaction with captivating solo performance.
Featuring in-depth interviews with a diverse range of teenagers, Yes Yes Yes is empathic empowering and engaging for youth audiences and carers alike.
Humorous, witty and moving, it sparks conversation where conversation can be difficult!
The result is a funny, generous and innovative piece of contemporary theatre that speaks directly to one of the most pressing issues young people face today, and holds its audience at its heart.
Photo credit: Jinki Cambronero
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS
THE TROJAN WAR
BY A SLIGHTLY ISOLATED DOG
DATES & TIMES
Fri 30 May at 11am
DURATION
1 hour 10 minutes followed by a Q&A PRICE
$31 per student/teacher CURRICULUM LINKS
Drama, English (Standard, Advanced)
"A high-octane, overly-charged show that defies many conventions of theatre!" – Dominion Post
Five 'faux french' performers meet you at the door. They bring you in, they show you to your seat. Then they tell a story - WITH you. Chaos in the form of hilarious physical theatre, improvisation and audience participation in-sues!
Like a wild dress-up party, The Trojan War tells the story of the tragic fall of Troy through theatrical magic, twisted pop songs and explosive wit. The most charming performers you can hope to meet play a revolving repertoire of outrageous characters.
Created and performed by A Slightly Isolated Dog, this New Zealand theatre company delivers a frantic and hilarious mash-up in the style of Monty Python meets The Mighty Boosh. Leave your inhibitions at the door and join us to explore hilarious parallels between war-torn ancient Greece and the chaos, confusion and absurdity of the present day.
An Education Resource kit is available with this show.
Photo credit: Andi Crown
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS A SHOCK THERAPY ARTS PRODUCTION
CROSSING THE DIVIDE
DATES & TIMES
10 – 20 Jun
DURATION
1 hour followed by a Q&A PRICE
$1760 per school
CURRICULUM LINKS
English, Drama, Aboriginal Studies
ACCESS POINTS
INCURSION
Liam, a scholarship student from the Torres Strait, is on his high school History excursion – a two-day trek across the Great Dividing Range, learning about the expedition by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson. As their guide Lionel draws attention to events often left out of the history books, tensions mount when Liam’s friend Max refuses to see how European settlement created anything but a pathway to progress for a newly forming nation.
Crossing The Divide is a vital conversation starter for anyone who calls Australia home and asks the question, “Can we find a path to a more unified Australia, or will be always be divided?”
"Crossing The Divide is an opportunity for students to be entertained by enjoyable, high-quality theatre that also engages them with a range of perspectives and truths about colonisation and First Nations Australian issues." C. McMenamin, Matthew Flinders Anglican College
This program is an incursion and can be accessed without leaving your school. To book your date and time, contact our Education Bookings team.
Photo credit: Cinnamon Smith
Shock Therapy Arts is proudly supported by the City of Gold Coast.
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS BRINK PRODUCTIONS'
LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI
BY VIDYA RAJAN | BASED ON THE NOVEL BY MELINA MARCHETTA
DATES & TIMES
Wed 11 Jun at 11am Fri 13 Jun at 11am
DURATION
2 hours including 20-minute interval
PRICE
$36.50 per student/teacher
CURRICULUM LINKS
English, Drama, Society & Culture
★★★★★
“Clever, heartening, full of detail and gravitas” – Theatre Matters
Josie Alibrandi is in her final year of high school. Whip-smart and aspirational, she is a third-generation Italian teenager and scholarship kid, with the shadow of a family curse and a penchant for rule-breaking. Juggling grades, boys, and the claustrophobia of an overbearing nonna and saintly mother, Josie’s life becomes tangled in the webs of class, identity, and family history as she finds her place in a changing world.
Iconic novel and cult movie, Looking for Alibrandi is the honest and empowered portrait of 1990s Mediterranean culture that spoke for the first time about systemic racism in Australia from a migrant perspective. It defined a generation and to this day resonates with those caught in the stranglehold of identity and othering in this country.
Award winning director Stephen Nicolazzo (Loaded, Merciless Gods) brought Melina Marchetta’s best-selling novel to the stage for the first time, where Vidya Rajan’s AWGIE nominated adaptation joined three generations of women in a passionate, heart wrenching, and unmissable rendering of the Australian classic.
With live passata sauce making, traditional Italian music and a soundtrack of Australian pop classics, Looking for Alibrandi is a vibrant theatrical experience full of passion, laughs, and beauty.
Belvoir Season 2022
Photo credit: Daniel Boud
Band Together Foundation are excited to announce the return of the Band Together Festival on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 of June, 2025. This two-day event will showcase school bands from across Greater Western Sydney, offering students a platform to display their musical talents and connect with the community.
Interested in having your school band join the festival? Simply send us an expression of interest at support@bandtogetherfoundation.com. Please note that spaces are limited, so we encourage you to contact us soon!
RIVERSIDE THEATRE PRESENTS SHAKE & STIR THEATRE CO'S
BY GEORGE ORWELL
DATES & TIMES
Wed 23 Jul at 11am
Thu 24 Jul at 11am
Fri 25 Jul at 7:30pm
DURATION
1 hour 40 minutes
PRICE
$36.50 per student/teacher
CURRICULUM LINKS
English, Drama
“Shake & Stir cement themselves as masters of adaptation with 1984.” –Australian Stage
Big Brother is back.
Strap in for an electrifying take on the George Orwell classic – from the multi award winning creative minds at Shake & Stir (Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Animal Farm and Dracula).
It was a bright cold day, and the clocks were striking thirteen…
Winston Smith, an editor at the Ministry of Truth, sits quietly. A quick swig of gin; a glance of quiet optimism toward the telescreen. Winston opens his diary, puts pen to paper, and in doing so, commits the essential crime that contains all others in itself. A radical and unprecedented act of rebellion.
Discovered, entrapped, and incarcerated in the Ministry of Love, Winston, in defending his burning desire for personal freedom, prepares for the fight of his life. Can the oppressive forces of The Party, led by BIG BROTHER, obliterate the indomitable human spirit?
And what exactly awaits within Room 101?
Original Australian Cast
Photo credit: Dylan Evans
Trophy
Boys
Photo Credit: Ben Andrews
RIVERSIDE THEATRES AND SOFT TREAD IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE MAYBE
PILE PRESENTS
TROPHY BOYS
DATES & TIMES
Tue 5 Aug at 12pm
Wed 6 Aug at 12pm Thu 7 Aug at 7pm
DURATION
1 hour 10 minutes followed by a Q&A PRICE
$31 per student/teacher
CURRICULUM LINKS
English, Drama
★★★★★ "Saltburn meets Promising Young Woman….(an) hilariously profound production" – Time Out
A queer black comedy about power, privilege….and debating.
It is the biggest night of Melbourne’s high school academic calendar, the Grand Finale of the Year 12 Inter-school Debating Tournament. The all-boys team from the elite St Imperium college are ready to totally annihilate their sister school rivals until...
Played in real-time as the St Imperium team prepare their case, Trophy Boys is a queer black comedy about power, privilege and high school debating. Using a winning combination of satire and camp, Trophy Boys interrogates the well-documented toxic masculinity, misogyny and homophobia of our elite private boys’ schools, and their prevalence in the backgrounds of those holding the highest offices in the country.
Photo credit: Ben Andrews
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS
A MONKEY BAA THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION
JOSEPHINE WANTS TO DANCE
BASED ON THE BOOK BY JACKIE FRENCH AND BRUCE WHATLEY
ADAPTED BY EVA DI CESARE, SANDIE ELDRIDGE AND TIM MCGARRY
DATES & TIMES
Tue 26 Aug at 10am
Wed 27 Aug at 10am
Thu 28 Aug at 10am
Fri 29 Aug at 10am
DURATION
50 minutes followed by a Q&A PRICE
$31 per student/teacher
CURRICULUM LINKS
English, Drama, Dance, Music
ACCESS POINTS
★★★★ “A complete delight.” Jo Litson, Daily Telegraph
A hilarious musical about the importance of believing in yourself and realising your dreams and... a dancing kangaroo!
Based on the picture book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, this delightful musical is a must see!
Josephine is a kangaroo who loves to dance. Her little brother, Joey, tells her kangaroos don't dance, they hop - but Josephine continues to point her toes and leap through the air. When a ballet troupe comes to the sleepy town of Shaggy Gully, Josephine desperately wants to dance like the ballerinas in pink tutus and silk ballet shoes.
On the day of the first performance the Ballet Company is in trouble. The prima ballerina twists her ankle and the understudy has a splinter in her toe. Who can dance the lead role? Josephine's talents are called upon to help save the day. Can she do it, and more importantly, does it matter that she's a kangaroo?
Photo credit: Alex Vaughan
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS
WONDERBOX
BY SENSORIUM THEATRE PRODUCED BY PERFORMING LINES WA
DATES & TIMES
24 – 27 Sep
DURATION
1 hour ACCESS POINTS
Wonderbox is open for Expressions of Interest.
Please contact our Education Bookings team.
Curiosity! Choice! Wonder! What’s inside the Wonderbox?
Sensorium Theatre - Australia’s leading theatre company making work specifically designed for young audiences with disability and their friends – invites children to roll the dice and set out along a safe, exhilarating pathway into the unknown.
Inside a giant puzzle-box of illusions, kooky-carnival friends with magic in their pockets lead audiences into an immersive multi-sensory wonderland of fantastical large-scale projections, strange tiny delights, and infectious live music. EVERY child’s curiosity is celebrated and rewarded with wondrous surprises. As boxes reveal boxes within boxes each child is given the opportunity to find a magical version of themselves.
Inside the Wonderbox, micro moments of whole worlds in a matchbox lead into macro universes where EVERYONE, their face reflected in the stars of the Milky Way, is invited to be wonderful!
Photo credit: Jessica Wyld
Commissioned by the 2023 Perth Festival and produced by Performing Lines WA, Wonderbox has been supported by Lotterywest and the Cassandra Ganter Foundation. The 2024/25 National Tour has been made possible by the Australian Government’s Playing Australia program, managed by Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body. Sensorium Theatre acknowledges ongoing support from DLGSC and Creative Australia.
MOUNTAIN GOAT MOUNTAIN
A THRESHOLD EXPERIENCE CREATED BY ZOË BARRY, LIZ FRANCIS, NIKITA HEDERICS, TAHLI CORIN AND SARAH LOCKWOOD.
DATES & TIMES
Mon 21 Jul – Fri 19 Dec
DURATION
5 episodes, for 5 interactive lessons
PRICE
$450 per school pass CURRICULUM LINKS
Creative Arts-Drama, English
ACCESS POINTS:
IN-SCHOOLS
Mountain Goat Mountain – the internationally acclaimed audio-theatre adventure – is now available for schools!
Experience an interactive and immersive audio narrative with a richly detailed soundscape that casts you and your students as both the actors and the audience.
Through 5 immersive episodes that are framed by Drama cross-curricular learning opportunities, students can work together to uncover the secrets of the Mountain, and discover the hidden treasures in each other.
This activity is guided by the teacher in the classroom. Episodes are accessed online and played to students via your classroom speakers.
As a self-guided program, teachers may choose how deeply to embed Mountain Goat Mountain into their curriculum. For example, students will be asked to draw a monster, build a cave and cross a river! Ideal for new and experienced junior primary teachers, it has been designed to enhance and complement what you are already doing in the classroom.
This program can be accessed within class. To book your date and time, contact our Education Bookings team.
Image Credit: Chris Edser
Mountain
Goat Mountain
Photo Credit: Sia Duff
RIVERSIDE'S NATIONAL THEATRE OF PARRAMATTA PRESENTS
DAYTIME DEEWANE
BY AZAN AHMED
DATES & TIMES
Thu 16 Oct at 7pm
Tue 21 Oct at 10:30am & 1pm
Wed 22 Oct at 10:30am & 1pm
DURATION
1 hour 10 minutes
Daytime Deewane is open for Expressions of Interest.
Please contact our Education Bookings team.
★★★★★ “I left the theatre grinning, exhilarated by superb performances...and delighted at the sight of so many joyful teenagers who had just quietly been educated about a little bit of brown-skinned rebellion.” – Everything Theatre Step into the rhythm of rebellion...
1997. London. A daytime nightclub.
Meet cousins Farhan and Sadiq. One quiet, one wild, both looking for a taste of freedom. Audiences are invited onto the dancefloor with the young ravers, as they are torn between respect and rebellion in a search for what it means to be British and Pakistani, and they’ve only got until 6pm to figure it out.
Daytime Deewane provides a unique, high-energy live performance experience for students to engage with themes woven through the NSW high school curriculum. As students watch Farhan and Sadiq navigate the complexities of self-discovery, they’ll encounter richly layered dialogue, evocative imagery and nuanced performance - deepening their understanding of identity, migration, and the power of storytelling. A full unit of work will be available for schools who book this production. This is a theatre show like no other - poetic, vibrant, and exhilarating.
RIVERSIDE THEATRES PRESENTS
A MONKEY BAA THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION
DETENTION
BY TRISTAN BANCKS
ADAPTED
FOR THE STAGE
BY CALLAN PURCELL AND KOBRA SAYYADI
DATES & TIMES
Mon 10 Nov at 10am & 12:30pm
Tue 11 Nov at 10am & 12:30pm
Wed 12 Nov at 10am & 12:30pm
Thu 13 Nov at 10am & 12:30pm
Fri 14 Nov at 11am
DURATION
1 hour
Detention is open for Expressions of Interest. Please contact our Education Bookings team.
Detention tells the compelling tale of two young people from disparate worlds finding each other amidst a figurative minefield: Sima, a Hazara refugee fleeing a detention centre when her visa has been rejected, and Dan, a marginalised boy raised in a caravan park in regional Australia. Their shared quest for a sense of home and safety binds them together.
Based on the novel by Tristan Bancks, this production explores the refugee experience, centering on themes of displacement, belonging, and shared humanity. Developed in collaboration with Hazara artists and young people, Detention seeks to ignite conversations, using theatre as a catalyst for truth-telling and change.
Commissioned by Monkey Baa, co-written by Callan Purcell and Kobra Sayyadi, directed by Randa Sayed, and created in collaboration with the Hazara community - ‘Detention’ is an edge-of-your seat theatrical experience.
Photo by Prazis Images
HOW TO BOOK
BOOK EARLY & SAVE!
Take advantage of Early Bird prices and save on selected shows. We do our best to accommodate everyone but shows fill up fast.
1. RESERVE TICKETS ONLINE
Visit the relevant event show page and select the ‘Education Bookings’ button. Click through to confirm the number of tickets and prices and follow the prompts to complete the reservation.
For every 20 students, we offer 1 complimentary ticket for teachers.
2. DEPOSIT INVOICE
You’ll receive an invoice for the non-refundable deposit amount of 25% with a payment due date. Once you have paid your deposit, your booking is secure and your numbers can be amended up until full payment has been received.
3. FINAL PAYMENT
Full payment is required 4 weeks prior to the performance date.
We accept the following payment methods:
• Credit card/School P-card
• Direct Deposit (EFT)
• EDConnect School Booking Terms & Conditions:
• Finalising Numbers: If you need more time to confirm your group size, please contact our Box Office and Education Supervisor to discuss options.
• Additional Tickets: Once final payment is received, no reductions in numbers are possible, however additional tickets may be purchased closer to the performance date.
• Booking Deadlines: For bookings made within 4 school weeks of the performance, full payment is due within 1 week of confirmation. These bookings are final—no changes, cancellations, or refunds are possible.
• Booking Fees: All bookings include a booking fee.
MAKING SCHOOL EXCURSIONS EASY
At Riverside, we understand the challenges teachers face when organising school excursions. We are committed to supporting you in every way possible to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for both you and your students.
If you have any concerns or need assistance with meeting our booking terms and conditions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
TICKET SUBSIDY PROGRAM
Riverside Theatres has a limited amount of funding available to subsidise schools with a lower ICSEA (<1000) index from disadvantaged or low socioeconomic communities. Get in touch to apply for the subsidy.
For all education enquiries please contact our Box Office and Education Supervisor on 02 9806 8148 or at education_riverside@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
ON-DEMAND WORKSHOPS ON
DEMAND
Looking for a performing arts related workshop for your students? Choose the workshops that work for you in our 2025 Workshops on Demand program!
We can cater a workshop to your students’ needs in a wide range of subject matters and specialties. Choose from the list below or propose something new! We’ll provide an industry professional to facilitate and the venue at a date and time that suits you and all you need to do is turn up.
Examples Include:
• Technical workshops – Lighting, Audio, Staging and Stage Management, Vision, Technical Design.
• Design – Costume, Set
• Acting – Solo Performance, Devising work, Acting Styles (Lecoq, Suzuki etc), Commedia Dell’Arte, Greek Drama.
• Dance – Composition and Creation, Various styles (Contemporary, Hip Hop, Ballet etc).
• Music – Composition, Classical, Contemporary, Improvised Music, Musical Theatre.
• Other creatives – Writing, Directing, Film-making.
Contact our Education Supervisor to design your workshop and for a quote.
CINEMA ON DEMAND
Book a Cinema On Demand experience and give your students front-row seats to world-class theatre, with high-definition recordings of live performances from top companies and iconic venues worldwide.
Past production screenings have featured legendary actors like Sir Ian McKellan, Ralph Fiennes, and Anne-Marie Duff. This is a unique and exciting way to bring the best of the world's stage directly to your students - right here in Parramatta!
Screenings will often include extras such as behindthe-scenes sneak peeks and special interviews with cast and creatives - a valuable experience for Drama and VET Entertainment Industry students. Contact our Education Supervisor for available cinema titles.
Tickets are $18 per student and additional teachers. There is a minimum of 20 students per booking.
GET INVOLVED
FOR STUDENTS
Upstage Club
Riverside’s invaluable participatory program for young people aged 15 – 22 in Years 11 – 12 or at a Tertiary training institution returns in 2025.
Upstage Club offers a limited number of successful applicants access to a number of performances, in conjunction with some exclusive workshops led by professional theatre makers, throughout the year.
Participants become a tight-knit community of young performance lovers, whilst extending their understanding of theatre making and appreciation in a supportive, collaborative and invigorating environment.
FOR TEACHERS
Riverside Education Panel
Are you passionate about providing students with access to quality arts experiences? Are you looking to join a group of like-minded educators to help shape Riverside’s program?
Riverside Theatres has a panel of NSW teachers and educators, known as the Riverside Education Panel or ‘REP’. They are from a variety of teaching settings, including primary, secondary and tertiary, and their purpose is to inform and support the programming and promotion of the Riverside Education Program.
The panel meets with Riverside Theatres staff once per term. REP members are also invited to attend Riverside Theatres presents opening nights and are given priority bookings for school performances.
If you are interested in being a REP Member, please contact us. Current REP members are listed inside the back cover of this brochure.
See our website to register riversideparramatta.com.au/get-involved
BACKSTAGE TOURS
Share the magic of theatre with your students by booking a Backstage Tour as an add-on to your show or workshop.
Tours of Riverside increase the understanding of how a professional theatre works.
Our Backstage Tours visit areas that are not usually seen by the public, and can be adapted to suit the learning needs of students and special interest groups.
The add-on price to a show ticket is $5 per student; without a show ticket, it's $10 per student. Maximum capacity is 25 students, and supervising teachers are free.
If you would like to book a Backstage Tour, please contact our Education Bookings team.
Please Note: All tours must be booked in advance. Tours may be restricted depending on the productions we have running on the day.
Bringing you quality performing arts experiences to support the growth and learning of your students.
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Riverside Theatres is proudly supported by City of Parramatta Council
PARTNER (GOVERNMENT)
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Director – Craig McMaster
Marketing & Communications Team Leader – Samantha Attard
Technical & Facilities
Operations Manager – Mike Brew
Ticketing & CRM Team Leader – Dave Fili
Executive & Creative Producer, National Theatre of Parramatta –Joanne Kee
Business Manager – Tanya Sampson
Programming & Curatorial Manager –Catherine Swallow
Customer Experience Manager –Jordan Vassallo
EDUCATION TEAM
Senior Producer – Education & Communities – Amy Matthews
Box Office & Education Supervisor – Mai Le
MAJOR PARTNER
RIVERSIDE THEATRES WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE RIVERSIDE EDUCATORS PANEL
Sharon Bower Independent Education Consultant
Matthew Easterman The Next Word
Anna Evans Illawong Public School
Danie Evans Blue Mountains Grammar School
Carolyn Gandouin Bradfield Senior College
Rebecca Kershaw Mount Druitt Public School
Letitia McCubbin Cumberland High School
Iris McGill Sydney Catholic Schools Arts Team
Angela Morosin Barker College
Aubtin Namdar Glenmore Park High School
Rachel White Western Sydney University
Anthony Quelch Marian Catholic College
Dane Ropa Northern Beaches Secondary College
Elizabeth Sardi The Jannali High School
Catherine Simpson Independent Education Consultant
Henrietta Stathopoulos Sydney Catholic Schools Arts Team
Ruth Smith Amity College
Brochure Design and Artwork leadinghand.com.au
Details in this brochure are correct at time of printing.
Riverside reserves the right to add, withdraw and substitute artists and vary the programme and prices should the necessity arise. Please note that some performances may contain smoke, strobe lighting, loud noise, coarse language and nudity. Where known we will indicate this in our website and in the theatre foyer at the time of the performance.
Curriculum links are a guide only as to what outcomes and content our events might link to. They are not exhaustive and are not intended to imply that the outcomes can be fully satisfied by attending one of our events. They are to be used at the teacher’s discretion.
ABN 49907174773