July 14, 2022

Australia’s native animals are at the heart of a children’s live theatre show coming to The Civic, Gunnedah on Tuesday, August 2.

The Owl’s Apprentice is a playful, interactive production for ages 3-12 that combines shadow and hand puppetry, physical comedy and great storytelling skills.

The 40-minute production follows the story of a young owl Poot Poot who is on his way to Owl School to study. Along the way he meets an echidna, a wombat, a kookaburra, a lyrebird, a kangaroo and a platypus and learns a little something from each of them. What he has learnt is put to the test when the forest is in danger of perishing.

The show will be brought to life by Jenny Ellis, a puppeteer with more than 20  years experience, who weaves the whole story together with a single set of hands, playing multiple characters at once.

The Owl’s Apprentice was created when Ms Ellis was mentored by internationally-regarded shadow puppeteer Richard Bradshaw. Throughout her mentorship, Ms Ellis went through a learning process and this is mirrored in the story of Poot Poot the owl.

Council’s Acting Cultural Precinct Team Leader Madeline Buhagiar said it was a good opportunity for families, day cares, pre-schools and primary schools to book tickets for the upcoming show.

“Live theatre is a fantastic way to engage children and tells a story in a different medium. The Owl’s Apprentice is an ideal production for children because it uses minimal props and encourages them to use their imagination,” she said.

“Come along and meet Poot Poot and all his Aussie friends as he journeys to Owl School and makes some important discoveries along the way. Book your tickets now on The Civic website.”

What: The Owl’s Apprentice

When: Tuesday, August 2. Doors open at 10:30am. Show starts at 11am.

Where: The Civic Theatre, 83 Chandos Street, Gunnedah.
Duration: 40 mins plus Q&A
Recommended age group: 3-12 years

Book tickets: https://augsc.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/54386

Caption: The Owl’s Apprentice is an interactive live theatre production for children.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s media team on (02) 6740 2100.