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About Us
Since 1997, Monkey Baa Theatre Company has been creating inspiring, award-winning theatre for young people, touring from bush to coast and across the seas. Our Creative Directors, Eva Di Cesare, Sandie Eldridge and Tim McGarry, have adapted over 15 classic Australian stories for the stage – from Josephine Wants to Dance, to Diary of a Wombat, Bugalugs Bum Thief, Hitler’s Daughter and The Unknown Soldier .
With patrons and key supporters including Australian Children’s Laureate Jackie French, Morris Gleitzman, Susanne Gervay and Tim Winton, we are constantly looking for new stories to tell – ones that will resonate and bring joy to our young audiences.
We are now Australia’s widest-reaching touring company, touring nationally and internationally, working with schools and performing arts venues across remote, regional and metropolitan Australia. Over 1 million Australian young people, their families and teachers have seen a Monkey Baa performance or taken part in one of our workshops!
Unlike other theatre companies offering work for young people, we take a “whole of childhood” approach, creating plays and arts education programs for ages 3-18 and providing professional development opportunities for teachers.
As resident company at the custom-designed, fully accessible ARA Darling Quarter Theatre since 2012, we curate an annual season of theatre for young people in school holidays and term time, presenting Monkey Baa plays, work from other Australian companies (including Griffin, Bunk Puppets,Matriark and Spare Parts Puppet Theatre) and international practitioners.
“Monkey Baa isn’t just about putting good books on stage. It shows kids how ideas and characters can be translated from one art form into another, keeping the essence of the book but refining it. It’s an adventure of the mind and spirit. It makes kids think as well as feel. Live theatre is kid’s heritage – the unbroken link with the storyteller around the campfire or ancient Greek dramatists. Country kids may not have a local doctor, or a telephone that works. But thanks to Monkey Baa they do get the magic of theatre.”
Jackie French – Monkey Baa Patron, Australian Children’s Laureate 2014/15 and 2015 Senior Australian of the Year