ArtPlay

04/09/2026

ArtPlay is the perfect place for new humans to begin to explore the world through art and theatre 🎨🥰 Our baby-focused programming resumes next week with Welcome The Little Stranger by Pocketfool .

Welcome the Little Stranger celebrates the tender, joyful and sometimes confounding time when a baby joins the world through theatre. Drawing on the instinctive ways that parents communicate with their babies, the performance takes the audience on a playful musical journey through relatable and precious moments in the life of a family with a very young baby.

Dates: Thursday 10 September to Sunday 13 September
Age: 0 to 12 months

Book soon before sessions sell-out 💫🔗 artplay.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/167981

Image credit: Darren Gill

01/09/2026

Introducing our new interactive installation: Obang 오방!

Step into a Korean grandmother's home while she is away visiting her grandchildren overseas. She invites you to make yourself at home, her generous spirit and warmth lingering in every corner.

Daes: Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, until 13 June 2027
Ages: 0 to 5 years and their adults

Obang오방 is an interactive exhibition designed for children ages 0 to 5 and their caregivers. Inspired by the traditional Korean concept of Obang*, you are invited to step inside a house inspired by traditional Korean living and East Asian philosophy.

Obang was originally co-created with families as an interactive theatre experience for babies through ArtPlay’s New Ideas Lab in 2019. This evolving project has toured across Victoria and to the Sydney Opera House and returns to its home base as a self-guided installation. This exhibition has been commissioned by ArtPlay, City of Melbourne.

*O (오): The Korean word for the number five. BANG (방): A play on words combining the Sino-Korean character 방 (方), meaning direction or cardinal points, and the Korean word 방, meaning room or space.

한국 할머니 집으로 여러분을 초대합니다.

할머니는 손주들을 만나러 해외에 가셨지만 집 안 구석구석에 남아 있는 넉넉한 인심과 따스함이 여러분을 반갑게 맞이해 줄 거예요.

오방은 한국의 전통적인 삶 속 의식주와 동양 철학에서 영감을 받은, 0~5세 아동과 보호자를 위한 어린이 주도적 참여형 설치 전시 입니다.

오방은 2019년 아트플레이 뉴 아이디어스 랩의 지원을 받아, 예술가들이 영유아와 가족들과 함께 창작한, 영유아를 위한 체험형 연극이며, 빅토리아 주와 시드니 오페라 하우스 등에서 공연을 마치고, 어린이들이 주도적으로 참여하는 설치 작품으로 아트플레이에 돌아왔습니다.

오방에서 ‘오’는 한국어로 다섯을 나타내고, ‘방’은 한자로 방향이나, 방위에 쓰이며, 한국어로 공간을 나타내는 방과 같은 소리 입니다.

Photography by Darren Gill

25/08/2026

Introducing an exciting theatre work for babies and their carers: Welcome the Little Stranger!

Welcome the Little Stranger celebrates the tender, joyful and sometimes confounding time when a baby joins the world. Drawing on the instinctive ways that parents communicate with their babies, this performance from Pocketfool takes the audience on a playful musical journey through relatable and precious moments in the life of a family with a very young baby.

Created and performed by Jennifer Andersen, Kym Tonkin, Heidi Weatherald, Loukia Vassiliades and Rasheeda Cooper.

Dates: Thursday 10 September to Sunday 13 September
For ages 0 to 12 months, and their carers

Book now! artplay.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/167981 💫🔗

A joyful theatre show for babies and their adults  Artists: Pocketfool    Welcome the Little Stranger is a theatre work for pre-walking babies and their adults that celebrates the tender, joyful and sometimes confounding tim…

19/08/2026

Inside Out is back this weekend! This is a free, drop-in session facilitated by ArtPlay's support officers.

Each session offers something different with various materials for your little ones to dig into and let their imagination soar. In this iteration of Inside Out, Families are invited into a colour-filled space inspired by ArtPlay’s new Obang installation.

Explore a different activity each time you visit: make a sculpture out of cushions or felt, turn it into a cubby house, or wrap and weave using ribbon and rope.

Dates: 22 August to 6 September, check our website for the specific timing
Ages: 2 to 7 years

Listen to music, cast shadows as you play, or relax in the sleepy zone. Anything is possible!

05/08/2026

Exciting news, INSIDE OUT is returning to ArtPlay! 🎨

Inside Out is a place to get creative with others and let your imagination soar. Families are invited into a colour-filled space inspired by ArtPlay’s new Obang installation.

There will be inspiring materials on hand for you to create artwork or build a play space together. Explore a different activity each time you visit: make a sculpture out of cushions or felt, turn it into a cubby house, or wrap and weave using ribbon and rope. Listen to music, cast shadows as you play, or relax in the sleepy zone. Anything is possible!

Dates: Various dates from Saturday 22 August to Sunday 6 September.
Ages: 2 to 7 years

This is a free, drop-in session (no bookings required!) for children and their carers. Check the session timings on our website for age-group specific sessions.

23/07/2026

Earlier this month, our By Kids For Kids collective completed their debut season of 'The Wall', an interactive theatre experience and workshop for children and families, The collective of 9- to 12-year-olds, mentored by , designed and performed the show themselves, meeting regularly for months in advance to plan something their peers would love.

This collective is one of ArtPlay's flagship co-design programs, where children take the lead in shaping creative arts experiences for themselves and their peers.

ArtPlay is currently closed for maintenance while we prepare our programming for the second half of the year. Subscribe to our newsletter (link in bio!) and keep an eye on our socials for program announcements.

21/07/2026

Last week, we hosted a sold-out season of The Newcomers, a shadow puppet theatre show from Thailand. After the performance, artist Tom (Sutarath Sinnong) held a Q&A with children and families and guided our little participants in making their own puppet characters.

ArtPlay is currently closed for maintenance while we prepare our programming for the second half of the year. Subscribe to our newsletter (link in bio!) and keep an eye on our socials for program announcements.

10/07/2026

We were joined by the lovely team at ไทยเธียเตอร์ฟาวน์เดชั่น Thai Theatre Foundation and artist Tom (Sutarath Sinnong) from Homemade Puppet for a morning tea yesterday with some of our other industry friends. It was incredibly exciting to learn more about Homemade Puppet, and the work that the wonderful Thai Theatre Foundation's team are doing. ArtPlay is always thrilled to be a part of connecting Australian and Asian creatives through children's theatre.

The Newcomer, a shadow puppet theatre show led by artist Tom, is making its sold-out debut at ArtPlay this weekend. Using everyday objects, lighting, sound and shadow puppetry, The Newcomers is a story about a society of space creatures trying to find a new planet on which to settle.

We cannot wait for everyone to see this beautiful work over the weekend. 💫👽

30/06/2026

Our By Kids, For Kids Collective cannot wait to show you what they've been working on!

This is a collective of children aged 9 to 12 years who, with support from , have designed an interactive theatre experience for children their age. Debuting this week, "The Wall" comes directly from the minds of children just like you!

Dates: Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 July
Ages: 5 to 7 years, 8 to 10 years

We have a few remaining tickets for children ages 8 to 10 years, and for parents to join with their children (Sunday 5 July, 2pm).

Book now: artplay.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/165078. We hope to see you there!

27/06/2026

'The Wall' premieres this week! Join us at ArtPlay to watch kids take charge and flip the script on theatre for children.

The Wall is an interactive arts experience that has been completely designed, hosted, and shaped by our By Kids For Kids (BKFK) Collective: a dynamic ensemble of local 10 to 12-year-olds working alongside professional creative facilitators from House of Muchness .

The Wall flips conventional, adult-centric theatre programming on its head. Instead of adults making choices for children, this production embeds young citizens into the heart of creative decision-making. The team has been working tirelessly to bring the Collective's vision to life, a process that requires significant trust and faith in the creative vision of children.

Thank you to,

Stage Manager: Amy Gray
Lead Artist: Hannah Liddeaux
Lead Artist: Alex Walker
Lighting Design: Harrie Hogan
Sound Design: Steph O'Hara
Set Design and Construction: Olivia Jackson .jackson.design
Photographer: Darren Gill .gill

We are so excited to see months of work brought to life. This winter holiday, come to ArtPlay to step into a world where children take charge!