School Holiday Fun

● ● Hello! We're the Wiggles will be Live in Concert at Hamer Hall.

■ Arts Centre Melbourne presents its Winter Families and Children Program – with a variety of family-friendly experiences running right through the holidays from June 24 to July 9.

Kids can choose their own adventure and bring their parents along for the ride. The program will span multiple venues, with the Playhouse, Hamer Hall and The Channel becoming home to dancing, opera, artistic workshops, trickery and more Roald Dahl’s tale of gruesome twosome www.artscentremelbourne.com.au

The Twits will be brought to life at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse from June 27 –July 1. Packed with Dahlicious mischief and mayhem, this classic will not only provide ‘lols through the school hols’ but encourage everyone to treat others with love and care.

For family-friendly opera, Parrwang Lifts the Sky will finally have its world premiere to a live audience after the 2021 Victorian Opera performances were cancelled as a result of the pandemic. Created by acclaimed Yorta Yorta/Yuin soprano, composer and artistic director Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, this opera is based on an original story from Wadawurrung Country told to the children of the Wathaurong by community Elder, the late Uncle David Tournier. Featuring some of Australia’s finest operatic talent including First Nations artists Shauntai Sherree, Jessica Hitchcock with Cheetham Fraillon herself and members of the Dhungala Children’s Choir, Parrwang Lifts the Sky runs at the Playhouse from July 7– 8.

Discover an imaginary world of giants, hairy creatures and flying things in the return season of The Grumpiest Boy in the World – presented by Victorian Opera, and featuring a score from Joseph Twist, known for his musical direction on hit children’s TV show, Bluey, alongside Sidney Myer Fellowship librettist and children’s author, Finegan Kruckemeyer. For children and parents alike, from June 23 – 24.

Hello! We're the Wiggles Live in Concert - Hot on the heels of their ARIA win for ‘Best Live Act’, The Wiggles are bringing their allsinging, all-dancing hit show to Hamer Hall. Joining Anthony, Tsehay, Simon, Lachy, Caterina, Lucia, Evie and John on stage are favourite characters, Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, Shirley Shawn the Unicorn and Bok the Hand Puppet. Three performances on Monday, June 26.

At Academy at Arts Centre Melbourne , budding creatives can participate in workshops at Arts Centre Melbourne’s learning lab, The Channel. These hands-on learning experiences are completely free and offer high achieving students from years 4-12 access to industry professionals and to discover how to bring their own identity to their artistic practice. Students will have the opportunity to take workshops in theatre making, improvisation, character development, song writing, dance, choreography and more, ensuring they have the inspiration and tools to take back to school and beyond.

Families can explore their love for music even further at the Australian Music Vault, a free exhibition open to all from 10am – 5pm daily. Developed by Arts Centre Melbourne in consultation with the music industry, the immersive exhibition celebrates Australian contemporary music and showcases iconic objects from Arts Centre Melbourne’s Australian Performing Arts Collection. Take the family and be in awe of the stories, costumes and instruments from legendary music figures and current icons like Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton-John, Nick Cave, John Farnham, Molly Meldrum, Missy Higgins and many more.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless