Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre Education Season 2021

EDUCATION

SEASON 2021 T R AV E L T O A N O T H E R P L AC E WITH US

WAGGA

WAGGA

C I V I C T H E AT R E

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www.civictheatre.com.au 02 69269688 education@civictheatre.com.au @waggacivictheatre Image: Julius Andrew Mata (@andrew.mata.54772)

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WELCOME 2021 Education Season!

An incredibly tall tree, a story imagined from a hospital bed, a colourful butterfly, a playful light and a very funny line-up of fleecy sheep. 2021 is going to be a huge year of adventure at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.

Live performance is the perfect way to travel: to experience different life viewpoints, to enjoy colour, movement and stories from near and far.

This booklet is to make your planning for 2021 easier.

We have brought together all the experiences that the Civic Theatre is offering as part of our education season.

It includes information on how to book and details of additional resources you can use in your classroom.

Season shows that will suit younger audiences: The 91-Storey Treehouse, The Midnight Gang, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Zooom and Pete the Sheep.

Season shows that will suit high school students: Follow Me Home, Animal Farm and Bell Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Many of these performances provide free workshops for schools that book in early.

If you would like to include a musical experience in your planning, the Australian Army Band Kapooka will present four free concerts throughout the year. We are delighted that the Plug + Play program for emerging musicians will return in 2021.

We hope that you find this resource valuable and our booking procedure clear and easy to follow. Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback.

See you at the Civic Theatre in 2021.

Carissa Campbell Manager, Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre

We would like to acknowledge the Wiradjuri people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the theatre stands. We pay respect to the Elders both past and present of the Wiradjuri Nation and extend that respect to other Community members present.

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E X PLO R E, DISCOV ER A ND I MAG INE N EW P O SSI B ILI TIES As the world roars ahead there are ever more new technologies and forms of artificial intelligence that promise to change the human experience. In a world that looks increasingly uncertain how do we help our children thrive, both now and in their future?

Through the Arts a child learns to interpret and make meaning of complex situations, and to start to understand the unfamiliar by seeing it in new terms of old experiences.

It is through the Arts that children learn to influence and respond to the emotions of other people, to weave

“Crucially for life in a complex world, the Arts help children develop a sense of human connectedness and belonging, a kind of development that will help them thrive in their uncertain futures, all the while, delighting in their precious childhood".

How might children develop an understanding of their place in the world? An understanding that they can explore, discover, and imagine new possibilities. How do they learn to capture an idea, play with it in their mind and help others to find their own meaning in that idea? How does each child develop their identity as a creative individual able to shape the world around them?

At first glance, it seems that our young people will need to know a lot about how technology works and how to write computer code when in fact it’s the Arts that will contribute strongly to young people’s ability to thrive.

Artificial Intelligence will understand computers and programming but, for now, it will not help people to find their own meaning in experiences or understand that sometimes there are things humans can’t express in words alone.

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together complex ideas and to effectively communicate meaning to a range of audiences.

Crucially for life in a complex world, the Arts help children develop a sense of human connectedness and belonging, a kind of development that will help them thrive in their uncertain futures, all the while, delighting in their precious childhood.

Professor Martin Westwell Chief Executive SACE Board of South Australia Professor in the Science of Learning Flinders University

BR I N G YO U R S TU D E NT S TO TH E TH E ATRE

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PR I M A RY

“D az zles an d delights” CANBERRA CRITIC S CIRCLE

A PLAY BY RICHARD TULLOCH

THE 91-STOREY TREEHOUSE ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK BY ANDY GRIFFITHS AND TERRY DENTON

F RIDAY 12 MA RCH 10A M, 1PM & 6:30PM Andy and Terry’s Treehouse has reached an amazing 91 Storeys! It’s now more fantastically dangerous than ever, with a deserted desert island, a whirlpool, and a giant spider!

But Andy, Terry and Jill have no idea they’re about to face their biggest challenge ever!

Mr Big Nose has sent his grandchildren to the Treehouse, and they don’t want to just sit quietly. Can Andy, Terry & Jill master this extreme babysitting challenge? What does mysterious fortune teller Madam Know-It-All really want? And will the Big Red Button really destroy the world?

The team behind the 13-, 26-, 52- and 78-Storey Treehouses Live on Stage return with a fantastical trip through this wild, weird and wonderful world for children 6-12 and their adults. Just beware of the fortune teller…

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Ticketing & age recommendation 60 mins (no interval) Age recommendation 6-12 yrs (NSW Stages 2 & 3) School group $15 One complimentary teacher ticket is available for every 20 students Curriculum links English (Dramatic adaptation, Australian literature), Drama (Storytelling, Movement, Playbuilding) Curriculum links available on request

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PR I M A RY

“A wonder f ul story of f riendship and not judg ing a book by its cover.”

S TAG E W H I S P E R S

A PLAY BY MARYAM MASTER

THE MIDNIGHT GANG BASED ON THE BESTSELLING NOVEL BY DAVID WALLIAMS

T UESDAY 30 MA RCH 10A M & 1PM Twelve year old Tom unexpectedly finds himself lonely and lost in the children’s ward of St Crook’s Hospital, away from his family and at the mercy of evil Matron. Tom feels like he’ll never leave, but his fellow young patients have other ideas. They might be stuck in hospital, but their imaginations can take them anywhere as The Midnight Gang. Each night when the clock strikes midnight, The Midnight Gang go on a series of amazing journeys as they turn the hospital into the places they’ve always wanted to go and make dreams come true.

The team behind The 13-, 26-, 52-, 78- and 91-Storey Treehouses, Mr Stink and Billionaire Boy bring David Walliams’ bestselling book to life on stage in a celebration of friendship, love and the power of the imagination.

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Ticketing & age recommendation 60 mins (no interval) Age recommendation Children 6-12 yrs and their adults (NSW Stages 1-3) School group $15 One complimentary teacher ticket is available for every 20 students Curriculum links English (Literature/language), Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Dance, Mathematics (Number & Algebra, Measurement & Geometry, problem solving), Science & Technology, Humanities & Social Sciences, PD, Health & PE Curriculum links available on request

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PR E S C H O O L / PR I M A RY

“Bedazzling! Will mesmerize audiences! ” T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S

CREATED BY JONATHAN ROCKEFELLER

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW BASED ON ERIC CARLE’S BOOKS

FRIDAY 21 MAY 10A M & 1PM S ATURDAY 22 MAY 10AM & 1PM One of the most-read and famous children’s books of all time, The Very Hungry Caterpillar emerges off the page in a masterful theatrical experience for children 18 months+ and their adults.

Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, the production features a menagerie of over 75 magical puppets, including the star of the show – The Very Hungry Caterpillar – and an Australian cast who bring these beloved books to life on stage.

Alongside The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the show features three other Eric Carle stories, including Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? The team behind the Australian tours of The Gruffalo, Spot, and The 13, 26, 52, 78 & 91-Storey Treehouses will excite, educate and entertain new readers and first-time theatregoers, while those who grew up with these books will delight in experiencing one of the most popular children’s books ever written.

Don’t miss out!

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Ticketing & age recommendation 55 mins (no interval) Age recommendation 4-9 yrs (School years K-4) School group $15 One complimentary teacher ticket is available for every 20 students Curriculum links English Literature (Australian literature) Drama (Storytelling, Movement, Playbuilding) Curriculum links available on request

– TIME OUT CDP KIDS PRESENTS

© Eric Carle LLC 2020

WWW.HUNGRYCATERPILLARSHOW.COM

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PR I M A RY

“Entrancing and always enchanting , appealing not only to kids but to grown-ups as well ” T H E A DV E R T I S E R

ZOOOM

BY PATCH THEATRE

T UESDAY 22 J UNE, 10A M & 1PM Combining old school whimsy with state of the art technology, ZOOOM is an enchanting story of a child alone in her bedroom, unable to sleep and curious to understand. She begins a transformational journey with light and discovers that the dark is a magical place. Adventures happen and with the assistance of the audience the girl discovers a community of people who can help her solve problems. Part music video, part dream, ZOOOM is a show about all sorts of perspective. Inspired by iconic children’s book Harold and The Purple Crayon, ZOOOM channels the same philosophy; a child who makes sense of their world through art.

The show is driven by the power of ‘child logic’, combined with the magic of science.

ZOOOM invites our audience to bring a piece of dark to the show. They arrive and their dark is exchanged for their own personal light – a little spark that will keep them safe and help guide them through the interactive sessions of the show.

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Ticketing & age recommendation 45 minutes (no interval) Age recommendation 3–10 yrs (School years K-5) School group $15 One complimentary teacher ticket is available for every 20 students Curriculum links Literacy, Critical and Creative thinking, Personal & Social Development, Information and Communication Technology, Intercultural Understanding, Ethical Understanding, Numeracy Curriculum inks and education resources available on request

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

Image: Andy Rasheed

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PR E S C H O O L / PR I M A RY

“A truly Aussie tale–delight f ul, f unny, iconic, warm and hilariously Ocker...”

K I D S B O O K R E V I E W, 2 011

A MO N K EY B A A T H EATRE C O M PA N Y P R O D UC T I ON

PETE THE SHEEP A D A PT ED FO R T H E S TA GE BY EVA DI CESARE, S A N D R A EL D R I D G E & T I M M CGARRY B A S ED O N T H E B O O K BY J A C K I E FR EN C H A N D B R UC E W H ATL EY

T UESDAY 19 O C T OB ER 10A M & 1PM Adapted by Monkey Baa in 2014 from the picture book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, with foot-tapping music and lyrics by Phil Scott and comedic direction by Jonathon Biggins, Pete the Sheep is a lively and mischievous award-winning musical for young audiences and their adults.

Shaun isn’t like the other Shearers in Shaggy Gully… he’d rather be styling than shearing and instead of ‘sheep-dog’, he has a ‘sheepsheep’ named Pete. After being rejected by the shearers and their dogs, Shaun and Pete set up their own Shearing Salon in town and before long word is out and they are inundated with woolly clients and maybe a Ringer or two!

This hilarious show, imaginatively told by four performers playing shearers, dogs and sheep explores the challenges and rewards of being an individual and will be a lasting tribute to honouring your own spirit and strength, whilst working with the flock.

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Ticketing & age recommendation 50 mins (no interval) Age recommendation 4–9 yrs (School years K-4) School group $15 One complimentary teacher ticket is available for every 20 students Curriculum links Creative Arts, English, Science & technology, Personal development Teacher resource materials are available

Illustrations by Bruce Whatley

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S E CO N DA RY

“shake & stir’s version of this infamous story snatches your attention and keeps a f irm g rasp until the horrif ying conclusion.”

T H E B A R E F O OT R E V I E W - C A N B E R R A

ANIMAL FARM

BY GEORGE OR WELL ADAPTED BY SHAKE & STIR T HEATRE CO

T UESDAY 23 A PR IL 11A M & 7.30PM Make Animal Farm Great Again, Again...

George Orwell’s powerfully potent and profoundly popular allegory returns in a multiaward winning theatre production - served fast, furious and full of grunt.

Revolution has taken place at Manor Farm.

The animals have overthrown their human masters and assumed control of the farm.

Fueled by enthusiastic camaraderie, a prosperous future free from the self-serving greed of humans is theirs for the taking.

However, it is not long until the principles that promised equality become the shackles that bind the animals once again.

Created by critically-acclaimed shake & stir theatre co, Animal Farm will be one of the most blisteringly relevant, fiercely physical and wickedly funny theatre events of 2021.

After being put out to pasture for much of 2020, live theatre is back - and more essential than ever.

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Ticketing & age recommendation 90 mins (no interval) Age recommendation 12+ yrs (School years 8-12) Teacher discretion needed for early high school years due to simulated violence

School group $20 One complimentary teacher ticket is available for every 20 students Curriculum links English (Dramatic adaptation, Australian literature), Drama (Storytelling, Movement, Playbuilding) Political Theatre, Brecht, Storytelling, Ensemble Theatre Curriculum links available on request

All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

Tour supported by arTour an initiative of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

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Image: Justine Walpole

S E CO N DA RY

« « « «½

“You' d be mad not to see it” T H E AG E

BELL SHAKESPEARE'S

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTOR PETER EVANS

T UESDAY 6 J ULY 7.30PM Shakespeare’s classic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is reawakened in this breathless production brimming with magic, mirth and mayhem.

Love is in the air in Athens – and it’s contagious. Besides the royal wedding, which is just days away, there are young lovers dreaming of enchanted futures together. This production is quick as a shadow. Fast, funny and family-friendly, this is A Midsummer Night’s Dream reimagined.

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Ticketing & age recommendation 2 hrs (including interval) Age recommendation 12+ yrs (School years 7-12) School group $20 One complimentary teacher ticket is available for every 20 students Curriculum links High School English (Shakespeare) Curriculum links available on request

This project has been assisted by the Australian government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

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S E CO N DA RY

“Follow Me Home succeeds in its intention to demystif y the complexities of youth homelessness.”

N I CO L E P I N G O N , P L AY WAV E

WRITTEN BY LEWIS TRESTON

FOLLOW ME HOME CREATED BY AUSTRALIAN THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (ATYP) IN ASSOCIATION WI TH THE ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (ACYP)

TH URSDAY 26 AUGUST 1PM Stories with heart, honesty and humanity.

Ticketing & age recommendation

Follow Me Home reveals the real stories of a group of extraordinarily strong, resilient and courageous young people from across Australia.

"Telling the truth and sharing your story takes guts" just to remove the repetition of truth/ honesty. Real guts. How do you tell your friend she can’t sleep over anymore? Can you help a parent when she’s lost all hope? How can you strive for independence when the system is working against you? And what if just being honest means you’re out on the street?

Inspired by the real life stories shared by homeless young people across NSW, this thought-provoking work from Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) is a must see for audiences aged 14 and over. Four talented young actors take on multiple roles in a fast paced show that will leave audiences with a shift in perspective, a little more compassion and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

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This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

80 mins (no interval) Age recommendation 14+ yrs (School years 8-12) Warning: Strong language Important note: Follow Me Home depicts young people living with the realities of homelessness. These stories explore themes of domestic and family violence, physical abuse and neglect, drug use, mental illness, references to suicide and references to sexual abuse.

School group $15 One complimentary teacher ticket is available for every 20 students

Produced in association with the Advocate for Children and Young People.

21 Image: Luke Stambouliah

MUSIC Photo: Jack of Hearts Studio

MUSIC AT MIDDAY WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL 12NOON WEDNESDAY 21 JULY 12NOON WEDNESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 12NOON WEDNESDAY 3 NOVEMBER 12NOON The Australian Army Band Kapooka provides musical support to the Army Recruit Training Centre and to the Riverina community. Part of their community contribution is presenting a daytime series of concerts proudly hosted by the Civic Theatre.

The Season of Music at Midday and Music in the Evening will be conducted by Major Michael de Jonge.

As a school group you will have access to pre-book your tickets to this complimentary concert prior to the seats becoming available to the general public.

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FREE COMMUNITY EVENT Ticketing For group bookings: Civic Theatre Booking Office 6926 9688 or boxoffice@civictheatre.com.au

MUSIC

PLUG + PLAY Plug + Play is a program where the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre works directly with emerging professional musicians (aged 14-25) in Wagga to provide support and mentoring in taking their musical career to the next level.

What does PLUG + PLAY do?

What to expect

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Work with you to create your own path to a professional music career

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Social media / getting gigs workshop

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Teach you how to market your work, how to get more gigs and how to get paid doing it

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Stage confidence

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Jam session on stage

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Sound workshop on stage

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Songwriting workshops

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Mini gigs for emerging artists

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Plug & Play end of year concert

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Offer workshops with industry professionals

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Provides technical support and coaching for your gigs

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Offer a chance for you to meet with other emerging musicians in Wagga

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Offer several gig opportunities throughout the year that you can be part of

Plus access to industry professionals, oneon-one mentoring and insider knowledge of what is going on and how to make sure you are there!

Details Participation is free. You can register your interest to be part of Plug + Play at civictheatre.com.au

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GE T T I N G HAN DS O N AT TH E TH E ATRE

WOR K S HO P I NFO RMATION BRIN G YO UR T HE ATR E E X P E R IE N CE I NTO TH E C L A S SR OOM! Children gain more from a theatre performance if their attendance is partnered with activity in the classroom.

Education resources are available for teachers to utilise for all shows touring to Wagga Wagga in 2021. In addition to this teaching resource we are pleased to also be able to offer a limited number of in-school workshops. Professional teaching artists from production companies will deliver in-school and online workshops in 2021.

These workshops are designed specifically with the Early Years Framework and Australian Curriculum in mind and provide a wonderful way to maximise the impact of your theatre experience.

The workshops connect school groups to the production before they see it, building excitement, understanding and ownership of the production.

Workshop details will be emailed to schools in advance of the performance.

If you would like to express your interest or make sure you are on our database to receive emails, please contact us at education@civitheatre.com.au or call Tracey Simond on 02 6926 9692.

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B O OK I NG P R O C ESS STEP 1.

BOOKING Complete the school group booking form and return to the Theatre at boxoffice@civictheatre.com.au or fax to 02 6926 9689. Additional booking forms can be found online at civictheatre.com.au

STEP 2.

PAYMENT Upon booking you will be invoiced for a 20% deposit in order to confirm your seats. Final numbers are due 6 weeks prior to the performance date. Bookings cannot be held if deposit payment is not received.

There are no refunds or reductions to numbers once final invoice is issued. Numbers may be increased if seats are available and can be organised by contacting the Box Office on 02 6926 9688.

STEP 3.

TEACHER RESOURCE KITS Teacher resource kits are available for selected shows.

We encourage you to use these resources to extend the experience into your classrooms before or after the performance. Contact education@civictheatre.com.au to request your resources.

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STEP 4.

THEATRE FOR ALL The Civic Theatre is committed to providing equal access for all students. Please contact the Box Office on 02 6926 9688 prior to your excursion to notify staff of your requirements.

STEP 5.

ON THE DAY We advise arriving at the theatre approximately 20 minutes prior to your performance.

Seating for school performances are often general admission and not ticketed (unless specified). Schools will be asked to enter as a groups and theatre staff will show you to your allocated seats.

Late arrivals may be excluded from the performance or may not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance. If you are running late please contact the Box Office on 02 6926 9688.

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"Quote here" Q U OT E F R O M

A PLAY BY RICHARD TULLOCH

THE 91-STOREY TREEHOUSE

TI PS F OR TEACHE RS

ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK BY P L ANNING YOUR TRI P TO TH E TH E ATR E ANDY GRIFFITHS AND TERRY DENTON

TRANSPORT

F RIDAY 12 MA RCH

Civic Theatre has an easy drop off 1PM and pick point for school buses on 10A M, & up 6:30PM Burns Way directly outside the Theatre entrance.

ACCESSIBILITY Animal Farm, one of the most enduring political commentaries returns in a multi-award

Ticketing & age recommendation

A lift is located in the foyer. Toilets are fully accessible and accessible 60 minutes (no interval) winning, critically-acclaimed theatre proseating is available. Accessible parking and drop off is locatedAge directly recommendation duction. George Orwell’s intensely powerful outside the entrance.

Please contact the Box Office prior to your excursion 6-12 years (NSW Stages 2 & 3) fairy tale allegorizes and satirizes communist togovernments notify seating requirements.

School group $15 while illustrating with stunning simplicity how greed and power corrupts with devastating consequences to all who yield.

FOYERS AND COURTYARDS Revolution has taken place at Manor Farm.

One complimentary teacher ticket is available for every 20 students Curriculum links

The Civic Theatre foyer space is limited and not recommended for school The pigs have assumed control and all the English (Dramatic adaptation, groups to fuelled sit for meal breaks before and after the show. We are fortunate animals, by enthusiastic camaraderie Australian literature), Drama toand have the civic precinct right outside our doors with expansive grassed guided by a set of self-imposed rules, are (Storytelling, Movement, Playbuilding) areas and aseating forfree students to self-serving run, play and eat. A great place to burn promised better life from the Curriculum links available on our website offgreed someofenergy or after the show humans.before However, it is not long untilbefore the journey home. In the case of bad will accommodate your group wherever possible. the rules thatweather, promised we equality and freedom become the shackles that bind the animals

once again.

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS

Created by shake stir andfill directed Many of our school&shows quickly.byWe encourage you to book early Michael Futcher, Animal Farm promises to be to ensure you get your preferred performance time. The Civic Theatre is one of the most shocking, relevant and wickcommitted to providing equal access for all students. Make sure you tell edly funny theatre events of 2020. us if your group has any special needs or accessibility requirements, we will happily accommodate them.

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M A K E A DAY O F I T You’ve booked the bus, so why not make a day of it by visiting some of the nearby cultural attractions? Here are the key contacts to extend your school excursion: Museum of the Riverina Phone: 02 6926 9655 Email: museum@wagga.nsw.gov.au Wagga Wagga Art Gallery Phone: (02) 6926 9660 Email: gallery@wagga.nsw.gov.au Wagga Wagga City Library Phone: 02 6926 9700 Email: wcl@wagga.nsw.gov.au

Environmental Education Officer Alice Kent Phone: 1300 292 442 Email: kent.alice@wagga.nsw.gov.au

NEED TO KNOW MORE?

Marketing & Education Officer Tracey Simond Phone: 02 6926 9692 Email: education@civictheatre.com.au www.civictheatre.com.au

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Wheelchair spaces are available and we can assist with other mobility issues. If you require wheelchair access or other assistance at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre please indicate on the booking form or inform the box office team at the time of your booking.

The Civic Theatre is fitted with a hearing loop. The system is accessible via hearing aids with a telephone setting. Please note, reception quality and levels may vary according to the age and type of hearing aid.

A carer is entitled to a free ticket when accompanying a paid Companion Card holder to the theatre.

Parking is available in close proximity to the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.

Car parks are located in Cross Street, entry via Cross Street and at the corner of Morrow and O’Reilly Streets, entry via O’Reilly Street.

The Civic Theatre foyer is a designated area for people to safely recharge their electric mobility scooter or wheelchair battery free of charge.

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WO U LD YO U LI KE TO B E MORE I NVO LVE D I N TH E TH E ATRE ’ S E D U CAT I O N SE A SO N?

SIGN UP TO BECOME AN EDU-BASSADOR F O R T H E T H E AT R E From time to time we will get in touch with you to get your opinions and feedback.

The aim is to give you more performances and workshops that compliment your teaching.

To sign up email education@civictheatre.com.au

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WAGGA

C I V I C T H E AT R E

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