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DIARY OF A WOMBAT

Based on the book by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Produced by Monkey Baa Theatre Company

From Sydney, Australia

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DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT ONLY 

This digital engagement includes 2 week unlimited access to a password-protected prerecorded video link hosted on Vimeo.

Millions of young people around the world have adored the multi award-winning picture book, Diary of a Wombat. Now this iconic work, written by Australian Children’s Laureate (2014 – 2015) Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley, comes to the stage.

 

Meet Mothball, the naughtiest wombat in Australia. Bored with her daily routine, Mothball goes in search of shelter and food, creating chaos in the lives of the humans around her. Doormats, trash bins and washing lines are no match for this mischievous marsupial. Between a packed schedule of scratching, sleeping and eating, Mothball discovers that with a bit of persistence, humans are quite easily trained!

 

This delightful non-verbal adaptation features puppetry, movement, and live cello music- from a team of revered artists including Puppetry and Movement Director, Alice Osborne (War Horse), Designer Imogen Ross (Monkey Baa's 2013 production Hitler’s Daughter) and accomplished composer/cellist, Oonagh Sherrard.
 

DIARY OF A WOMBAT was jury-selected and performed a full showcase at the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) conference in Philadelphia in January 2018.
 

Best for Grades: K - 3rd

Curriculum

Curriculum Connections

  • Science: Animals and the Environment, Wombats, Sustainability

  • Fine Arts: Puppetry, Drama, Music, Visual Arts and Design

  • Language Arts: Literacy, Creative Thinking, Adapting a book into a play

Remote Outreach & Workshops

Please contact us if additional remote outreach or workshops is something you'd like to explore. A Monkey Baa Teaching Artist or members of the creative team may be available to deliver pre or post show workshops for participating schools. Please connect with us about outreach activities that best engage your teachers and schools. 

Workshops
Digital Tech Specs

Digital Tech Specs

This performance is available as a prerecorded link hosted on password protected Vimeo site  managed by HAA.
Each site will be made specific to the presenting venue with the following possible models.
 

A Standard Educational Engagement includes:

  • 2 weeks of Unlimited Educational Access for Schools (within 60 miles of Venue). 

  • A custom password protected link with full pre-recorded high quality video, hosted on Vimeo

  • Ability to add your venue’s logo and custom welcome greeting

  • Ability to add a presenter-recorded Curtain Speech video

  • A sample study guide (pdf)

  • Additional activities such as live online workshops, masterclasses, etc... available for separate fee with scheduling TBD mutually

 

For some shows, an Extended Educational Digital Engagement may also be available. This provides the same access and basic resources as a standard engagement but with 5 videos of 15-20ish minutes. The performance video is split into "chapters" PLUS additional resources created by the company. Perfect for viewing over multiple days or sessions and expanding the context or curriculum connections around the show.

 

A Public Family Engagement includes:

  • 1 weekend of Access for Public Audiences (within 60 miles of Venue)

  • A custom password protected link with full pre-recorded high quality video, hosted on Vimeo

  • Ability to add your venue’s logo to Vimeo Page

  • Customized Greeting from Company on Vimeo Page

  • Ability to add a presenter-recorded Curtain Speech video to Vimeo Page

  • A sample study guide (pdf)

  • Additional activities such as live online workshops, masterclasses, etc... available for separate fee with scheduling TBD mutually
     

Please talk to us if you are looking to serve both school and family audiences with this digital presentation and we can combine models for the appropriate access.

Artistic Team

Artistic Team

Director – Eva Di Cesare

Puppetry and Movement Director – Alice Osborne

Set and Costume Designer – Imogen Ross

Composer – Oonagh Sherrard

Lighting Designer – Matt Cox

Sound Designer – Kingsley Reeve

Puppetry Design and Construction – Bryony Anderson

Concept Team – Sandra Eldridge, Tim McGarry, and Eva Di Cesare

Critical Acclaim

Critical Acclaim

Narrated by cello and brought to life beautifully by Mothball’s puppetry, this is a delightful little play. - The AU Review
 

Diary of a Wombat is a must see! - Talking Arts

 

Who better exists in children’s theatre circles than director Eva Di Cesare and the insightful Monkey Baa team to respectfully transform this classic to the stage for the 3+ age group. - Sydney Arts Guide
 

Entrust anything to the creative team at Monkey Baa Theatre and they will sprinkle their magic across the book and make it come to life.
- Kinderling Kids Radio

 

My 2-year-old was mesmerised, my 7-year-old laughed out loud. - Kidsize Living

Children’s theatre company Monkey Baa has worked its magic with this delightful adaptation of Diary of A Wombat.
Sunday Telegraph

Company Background

About

Past tours: The Unknown SoldierI am Jack and Hitler’s Daughter

Three actors sitting in a Sydney coffee shop on a wet and windy April morning in 1997 seems an unlikely place for the birth of a theatre company, but that’s exactly where the seeds of Monkey Baa Theatre Company were born. Since then, we have been creating inspiring, award-winning theatre with young people at the heart of everything we do.
 

In offering work for young audiences, we take a “whole of childhood” approach, creating plays and arts education programs for ages 3-18 and providing professional development opportunities for teachers. We strive to ensure that young people, wherever they are located and whatever their economic circumstances, have the opportunity to share in fantastic theatre experiences that reflect their own lives.

 

We are Australia’s widest reaching touring company. With over 25 national tours to 135 regional and remote communities across Australia, 4 international tours and over 2,500 performances, we have engaged over 1.3 million young people. The company has received multiple awards including the 2007 Helpmann Award, the 2007 Drover for Touring Excellence and the 2006 Drover for Audience Development for Hitler's Daughter. The company won the 2010 Helpmann Award for Thursday's Child, the 2011 Glug Award for Fox, 2017 Glug Award and Sydney Critics award for The Peasant Prince, and the 2017 Sydney Theatre Awards' Special Award for 20 years of outstanding achievement.

 

Visit the company's website.

Gallery of Past Productions

Past Productions
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