Kids& families 2020
Join Us For A Year Of Magic & Imagination!
t we’re all jus
made from pI Eces The Joan’s 2020 Kids & Families season explores what it means to be human and to connect with the world around us.
We explore what it means to belong, how we make sense of the world, and find our place in it.
It’s filled with journeys of friendship and rites of passage. Surprises and laughs. From girl geeks and video games, to inventions, technology, magic and imagination.
And we keep fun squarely in the picture; with plenty of hands-on opportunities to build, discover, invent and create, because a little bit of alchemy adds a whole lot of magic.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE Why subscribe?
There are many great reasons to subscribe: DISCOUNTS Obviously anything that helps a family’s hip pocket is a good incentive. Purchasing a subscription offers a solid discount to selected shows. JUMP THE QUEUE When kids’ shows hit the spot, they really hit the spot, and they can sell out super-fast. Subscribers are guaranteed first dibs on all shows. A GREAT GIFT IDEA A subscription is the perfect gift for a curious and developing mind. Unique and special memories are made and shared – a gift that lasts forever. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Subscribing is easy – simply fill in the form at the back of this guide, or visit thejoan.com.au online where the Box Office is open 24/7. NEED HELP CALCULATING YOUR DISCOUNT?
$90
6 4
SHOWS
SHOWS
$40
$35
$30
$25
12% 79.20 35.20 30.80 26.40 22.00
OFF
10% 81.00 36.00 31.50 27.00 22.50 OFF
Penrith Performing & Visual Arts acknowledges the unique status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the original custodians of lands and waters, including the land and waters of Western Sydney
august Lights in the Park Ages 14+
April Ann-Droid ages 4+
YOUNG ADULTS
YOUNG ADULTS
June My Robot ages 4–12
may Playlist Ages 14+
AND THE JOAN Celestino proudly supports the 2020 Kids & Families Season CEO John Vassallo believes “there’s an enormous social value in showing children they can imagine the unimaginable. In order to boost literacy and create well-rounded, confident, curious and creative minds, kids need the opportunity to be involved in live theatre.”
august Beep
october Loose Ends
ages 2–7
ages 5–12
november Just Live on stage! ages 8–12
november Edward the Emu
Kids & families
ages 4–9
Ages 4+
ANN-DROID
THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF A ROBOT GIRL For kids whose first passion is video games, Ann-Droid may well be the perfect early theatre experience. This show combines theatre with animation in a present day take on the Pinocchio story. Bereaved eccentric inventor Alfred invents a robot girl, Ann. She is tasked with completing a mission: to collect the lost creatures. During her magical journey on the ground, in the air and underwater, she learns what it means to be a human. Written and directed by Bandart Productions Animation, Programming and Performer: Szabolcs Tóth-Zs. Choreography and Performer: Katalin Lengyel Costume: Anna Weszelovszky Hardware Interface design: Réka Harsányi Music: Balázs Alpár Sound Design: Zoltán Vadon
School holidays Wed 22 Apr 10am & 12pm Thur 23 Apr 10am & 12pm 50 minutes TICKETS All tickets $25 Family of four $90 Venue Q Theatre
YOUNG ADULTS
PLAYLIST
A PYT Fairfield production
Playlist is Beyoncé meets the women’s marches meets Australian Idol. It’s full of suburban dreams and pop star fantasies. Five incredible young women talk about their favourite female pop stars and how these narratives inspire and shape their personal worlds in this genre-defying dance theatre work. The extraordinary cast represent a unique and powerful cross section of emerging artists in contemporary Australia, featuring Ebube Uba, a Nigerian-Australian actor and dancer; Neda Taha, a Tongan-Iraqi-Australian hip hop dancer; May Tran, a Vietnamese-Australian slam poet; comedic actor Tasha O’Brien; and Croatian-Australian pop star Mara Knezevic. Created by PYT Fairfield (Jump First, Ask Later), one of Australia’s most celebrated makers of brave and transformative new work that reflects the cultural diversity of contemporary Australia.
Wed 27 May 7.30pm Schools performances Wed 27 May 10am Thurs 28 May 10am 70 minutes TICKETS Standard $40 Concession $35 Under 30s $30 Venue Q Theatre Audience advice: Coarse language, adult themes, strobe and haze
PHOTOGRAPH: Alex Wisser
Ages 14+
Ages 4 – 12
Playwright: Finegan Kruckemeyer Director & Dramaturg: Matt Edgerton Designer: Isla Shaw Lighting Designer: Chris Donnelly Composer & Sound Designer: James Luscombe Robot Designer: Steve Berrick
A show about making new friends – literally!
A Barking Gecko Theatre production
MY ROBOT
When Ophelia moves with her family to the seaside, she’s not impressed. She doesn’t like the beach, misses her old home and thinks the people in this town are pretty strange. While unpacking her room she discovers a mysterious box full of gadgets, parts and pieces, and a strange note that reads ‘You. Make. Me.’ Her curiosity gets the better of her and she spends all night assembling the objects into Olivetti, a robot with a typewriter chest and an alarm clock heart. Made up of pieces, but more than the sum of her parts. My Robot takes audiences of all ages on a rambunctious adventure filled with robot antics, laughter, daring rescues and bewildered parents, all told with the care and artistry synonymous with Barking Gecko’s award-winning shows.
Wed 3 June 12pm* & 6pm Thur 4 June 10am* & 12pm* *These shows are also open to school audiences. Check website for details. 60 minutes TICKETS All tickets $25 Family of four $90 Venue Q Theatre
Ages 2 – 7
BEEP A Windmill Theatre Company production
A slightly sideways tale from the makers of Grug
A story about unexpected friendship, finding where you fit and learning to mix it up a little. In Mort’s Village everything has its place, every day is the same and everyone likes it that way. Until one morning, crash, boom, bang… down comes Beep.
PHOTOGRAPH: LUKE CARDEW
What is this annoying interruption to Mort’s breakfast molly melon, who is this noisy robot girl, and how will she find her home? With Windmill’s trademark design, gentle storytelling, music and puppetry, Beep tells the story of what happens when someone new comes to town.
Thur 27 August 12pm* & 6pm Fri 28 Aug 10am* & 12pm* *These shows are also open to school audiences. Check website for details. 35 minutes TICKETS All tickets $25 Family of four $90 Venue Q Theatre
“If you’ve never taken the family to the theatre before then Beep is definitely the show to start them on their love for theatre, opening their imagination and wonder to a whole new world of entertainment”
KIDS IN ADELAIDE
Ages 14+
“Things feel darker in the dark, don’t they? Okay, that sounded more profound in my head.” - Amy
YOUNG ADULTS
LIGHTS IN THE PARK
One quiet night, the street lights flicker out and plunge the world into darkness. A “lights out” party is announced in Royal Park, and every kid in town makes their way there to celebrate this strange occurrence. A trio of role-players leave their game and embark on a quest for revenge... two enterprising youngsters sell torches at reasonable prices... the disgraced star of a viral video looks to make her social comeback and the floor-mopper at the local chemist encounters the worst kind of shoplifter. All these stories unfold on the way to Royal Park because everybody’s on their way to the same party. And it is not to be missed. *12pm performances are also open to school audiences. Check website for details. Not included in the subscription offer
Wed 5 & 12 Aug 7.30pm Thur 6 & 13 Aug 7.30pm Fri 7 & 14 Aug 7.30pm Sat 8 & 15 Aug 7.30pm Wed 12 Aug 12pm* Fri 7 & 14 Aug 12pm* 80 minutes TICKETS Standard $35 Concession $30 Students $20 Venue Allan Mullins Studio
Image: Luke Stambouliah, Justin Stambouliah
An ATYP and Q Theatre coproduction Written by Alexander Lee-Rekers Directed by Lucy Clements
Ages 5 – 12
LOOSE ENDS Devised and performed by Jens Altheimer
Makers, creators, and story lovers: dive into a theatrical adventure that feels like the magic box of a bygone trickster! Journey to an eccentric place where gadgets are poetic, puppets naughty, machines untamed and circus tricks pop up when you’re least expecting it! This is a world where music appears from lemons, carrots and bunny’s bums, monsters go crazy and birthday parties are ferociously celebrated. Loose Ends is the story of a man who thinks he can organise all his life in boxes, and has a knack for getting into mischief. Can this tinkerer learn enough about real friendship to keep him out of trouble? This breathtaking show is highly visual, emotional and unpredictable. It makes inventions and machines fun and adds a few quirky edges to puppetry.
School holidays Thur 1 Oct (workshops) 11am & 1pm (60 minutes each) Fri 2 Oct 10am & 12pm Sat 3 Oct 10am & 12pm 60 minutes TICKETS Show tickets $25 Family of four $90 Workshop tickets $10 (Show ticket holders) $15 (Non-show ticket holders) Venue Q Theatre
Out-of-the-ordinary visual theatre, set in a wondrous tinkering heaven
Ages 8 – 12
Written by Robin Goldsworthy Adapted from the JUST book series written by Andy Griffiths and illustrated by Terry Denton
A Red Line production
JUST LIVE on stage! Andy Griffiths’ universally celebrated book series JUST will finally land on stage in a dazzling production that will vividly and hilariously bring the stories to life.
With everything from invisibility pills and mudmen, to vomiting dogs and death defying balloon rides, this won’t be for the faint farted. Or the fainthearted. A love letter to the powers of imagination, Just Live on Stage! brings these rich and wild stories to life. Creator Andy Griffiths says “the JUST series is where it all began for me and it will be JUST amazing to see these crazy/annoying/stupid stories come alive on stage!” JUST tricking. JUST annoying. JUST stupid. JUST crazy. JUST disgusting JUST shocking JUST doomed. Just unmissable.
Fri 6 Nov 12pm* & 6pm Sat 7 Nov 10am & 12pm *This show is also open to school audiences. Check website for details. 60 minutes TICKETS All tickets $25 Family of four $90 Venue Q Theatre
Ages 4 – 9
A Monkey Baa Theatre Company production
Edward the emu IMAGE: Rod Clement
Based on the picture books by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement Written for the stage by Eva Di Cesare Directed by Eva Di Cesare The award-winning Monkey Baa team brings to the stage a new imagining of the classic Australian books by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement. Edward and Edwina both wonder if there is more to life than being an emu, but after adventures beyond the enclosure they discover that being themselves is enough!
Fri 20 Nov 12pm* & 6pm Sat 21 Nov 10am & 12pm *This show is also open to school audiences. Check website for details. 50 minutes TICKETS All tickets $25 Family of four $90 Venue Q Theatre
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. Albert Einstein
Bathory Begins, Tracey Schramm traceyschrammphotographer.com
at The Joan
Music
Penrith Conservatorium — housed at The Joan — is the heart of music in Western Sydney. Whether you’d like to simply learn to play your favourite tunes or classical music, our expert teachers will support and guide you to reach your potential. Private lessons or group classes, starting from toddlers. Suitable for students of all ages, beginner to advanced. Penrith Conservatorium’s course structure enables you to progress through the levels of learning, right through to professional standard, or to just keep going for the enjoyment of it!
Theatre
Studio Q is Q Theatre’s program for young artists aged 5 – 18 and for artists living with disabilities. Beginning with fun exercises and creative play, our professional tutors lead participants on a journey exploring the fundamentals of acting, storytelling, voice, movement; whether setting them on a pathway that continues to a career in the performance industry — or for the joy and wonder of learning creative and confidence-building skills that can be applied to all areas of life.
School Holiday workshops
Every school holidays, The Joan presents a series of activities to provoke creative discovery, fun and learning. To receive alerts about these, please subscribe to our newsletter at thejoan.com.au
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Government Partners
Sponsors and Partners
ANN-DROID THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF A ROBOT GIRL
PLAYLIST
MY ROBOT
LIGHTS IN THE PARK
BEEP
EDWARD THE EMU
JUST LIVE on stage!
Your experience at The Joan BOX OFFICE Our Box Office is open between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday, and one hour before each performance. Booking online is easy! Simply go to our website thejoan.com.au, browse our program and click through to book. You can also subscribe online. Phone 4723 7600 Email boxoffice@penrith.city Web thejoan.com.au
GETTING TO THE JOAN You can find us at 597 High Street, close to the Penrith City Council building and Westfield. We’re a short walk through Westfield from Penrith train station, and if you’re coming by car we’re just off Mulgoa Road, past the roundabout on High Street. There are several parking options nearby - three hours free in Westfield, all day parking in the Union Road Car Park and 1 – 2 hour daytime parking (no time restriction at night) in the nearby Civic car park.
PAYMENT Credit card (Visa or Mastercard), cheque or money order made out to Penrith Performing & Visual Arts Ltd, cash (please do not post).
Our Box Office is on the ground floor, at the Westfield end, near the bar and the lift. ACCESS INFORMATION The Joan is committed to ensuring access for all people. Our Box Office and Front-of-House staff will be happy to assist with any needs. • Wheelchair spaces • Accessible seating • Companion card accepted • Hearing loops in the Q Theatre • Audio-described performances • Lifts from ground floor
BOOKING FEES A $5 booking fee applies to all transactions (regardless of the number of tickets bought or payment type). CONCESSIONS Concession pricing is available for any type of pensioners, Seniors Card holders, Australian Government Health Care Card holders, as well as full time tertiary, TAFE and school students only.
Number of seats 374
Wheelchair spots 4
Q theatre 30 31 32 22 23 24 33 34 20 21 19 35 18 36 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 37 17 19 20 34 35 18 17 12 17 36 16 37 18 11 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 15 38 19 16 38 18 32 10 19 17 33 39 15 9 20 16 34 15 40 35 14 8 21 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 17 14 36 16 29 41 13 14 22 7 39 15 30 42 12 14 31 40 13 23 6 13 32 19 22 18 20 21 23 24 17 25 26 43 11 41 16 12 24 5 15 33 12 27 13 37 10 44 14 28 11 42 25 4 13 29 12 38 45 9 10 43 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 12 30 15 3 26 11 39 9 14 44 25 46 8 31 11 13 26 10 40 27 2 11 34 45 8 47 12 27 7 9 41 35 10 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 1 28 11 28 7 46 12 6 48 8 42 10 9 36 29 11 23 6 47 10 49 5 32 10 24 43 8 7 37 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 33 5 9 48 25 4 50 10 11 19 7 38 44 6 9 34 8 20 9 30 4 49 3 51 6 39 5 45 8 21 31 8 35 7 3 50 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 52 5 40 4 46 26 8 32 7 6 36 11 1 51 2 1 53 7 41 3 4 47 27 33 6 5 37 1 52 7 22 54 6 3 42 2 28 48 5 34 4 38 6 23 53 5 29 43 1 2 49 35 4 3 39 24 5 54 4 30 1 44 50 36 3 2 40 4 25 3 31 45 2 37 1 41 3 26 2 32 1 38 42 27 2 1 33 28 1
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Design by ragingyoghurt.org
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Number of seats: 374 Wheelchair spots: 4
Subscribe now! CHECKLIST Before sending, please check the following: INFANTS ATTENDING PERFORMANCES Generally, infants aged under two years do not require a ticket to attend performances at The Joan provided they can sit on a parent’s lap. The Joan has baby change facilities and a pramfriendly lift available. Storage for prams and strollers For all Kids & Families performances in the Q Theatre, you can store prams and strollers in the holding room. Other performances in the Concert Hall, please store them via the side stage.
CONTACT DETAILS Please ensure these are clearly written and that you have included your mobile phone and email address as these are the easiest ways for us to contact you. CHOOSE YOUR SHOWS Make sure you
have selected the performances you want to see, with all the relevant boxes ticked or filled in.
SEATING REQUIREMENTS Please make
sure you’ve let us know if you have special needs.
CONCESSION CARDS If claiming a concession, include a photocopy of your concession card. TOTALS Please make sure you’ve completed your adding up and payment details.
If you need help with your subscription, please call 4723 7600 or check our website for more hints thejoan.com.au EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT
ONLINE Subscriptions are available at
our website thejoan.com.au
MAIL You can put your completed form in the mail and Australia Post will deliver it to our door. 2020 Kids & Families Subscriptions Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre PO BOX 2 PENRITH NSW 2751 THE FINE PRINT For more detailed subscriber information including ticketing terms and conditions, ticket exchanges and our privacy statement please visit our website thejoan.com.au PLEASE NOTE Details are correct at time of printing. We reserve the right to alter without notice program, performers, dates, times and/or prices as may become necessary.
IN PERSON Come and say hello to our friendly Box Office staff. Drop your completed form off at The Joan, 597 High Street, Penrith.
Please be aware that during peak times it may not be possible for your subscription to be processed on the spot. Your tickets will be emailed or posted to you.
Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre
PO Box 2 Penrith NSW 2751 597 High Street Penrith Box Office 02 4723 7600 or thejoan.com.au PENRITH PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS LTD ABN 97 003 605 089
JoanSutherlandPerformingArtsCentre
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we’re all just made from pieces
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