History
Australia’s Polyglot Theatre is an internationally renowned creator of interactive and experiential theatre for children aged up to 12 years. At Polyglot, theatre is child’s play.
Polyglot’s theatre is inspired by the artwork, play and ideas of children, and our performances feature active participation from audience members through touch, play and encounter. Our artistic works respond to the childhood need for experiences that encourage free artistic expression and an imaginative interpretation of the world. We seek to challenge, to foster curiosity and to inspire. We specialise in puppet theatre, large scale interactive installation work and participatory workshop programs.
In 1978 Polyglot Puppet Theatre was formed to promote understanding between cultures, bringing multi-language puppetry performance to theatres and schools for Victorian children. Since the year 2000 the company has greatly expanded its focus. Driven by a desire to reach a broader audience, Polyglot now creates performance and events for the street and festivals, interactive events for families, large scale theatre performances and community participation performance, as well as remaining loyal to schools through shows and workshops. Responding to the changing cultural climate, Polyglot has been involved in collaborations, co-productions, partnerships and consultative processes that inform and enrich the company's product.
For over 30 years, Polyglot has been recognized one of Australia’s leading children’s theatre companies, and in recent years the company has been in demand internationally, playing to over 60 000 children annually on four continents.
Polyglot has been recognised for groundbreaking work in community participation performance and has a reputation for excellence, innovation and quality in its professional productions.
Polyglot has embraced a meaningful engagement with communities bringing them into the creative process and creating puppetry inspired, designed, built and performed by kids. Part of this engagement is the Kids Creative Committee, designed to bring kids ideas, opinions and art into the creative development of new theatretical experiences.
previous productions
Baggy Pants is a wonderfully evocative adventure set in a stage world where familiar things have shifted identity entirely.... |
Check Out! is a wickedly funny work of theatre about the consumer culture bonanza. Set in a supermarket, Check Out! ... |
City of Riddles is a 360-degree interactive theatre experience requiring hands-on participation from its audience, who are... |
Gina and Rick are on the road together after Nan's funeral and both have a couple of secrets they are not willing share. As they get... |
High Rise was a puppetry and performance project, based in the Carlton High Rise Housing Estate and the on-site Carlton South... |
Presenting the Famous Alphonse De Flange and his terrifying Giant Python! |
Johnny and Rose haven't seen each other since they were teenagers. Years later they are meeting at th emovies, but could hardly have... |
Three very different groups of kids worked with professional artists to create shadow performances and installations. The site-specific... |
The Big Game is a gigantic, fun interactive performance and play space for families. The Big Game takes the nature of... |
The Mighty How is the story of two people with a communication problem, emotional puppets, terrible danger, a fabulous machine... |
Inspired by themes brought to light by indigenous performer and storyteller Ian Hunter, Trek was a cheeky look at a changing... |
Polyglot is working in collaboration with the Melbourne Zoo for the palm oil awareness campaign. The outcome is expected next year, with... |
