DATE: Wednesday 15 July, 2026
TIME: 10am and 1pm (runs 45 mins)
COST: $30 / $20 / Family Pass $90
FOR: Ages 4-12 + adult
Details
Spike is the story of an echidna who is stolen from his nest by a greedy rat. He hatches from his egg far away from home. A young girl finds him. She is playing alone in the bush because she is being bullied by other children. He has no spikes yet and she doesn’t know what kind of creature he is. She tries to work out where he comes from, but accidently puts him in dangerous situations – in the nest of a crocodile, an emu and a turtle. He feels frightened, rejected, alone. As the story unfolds, she helps him to discover where he belongs, and he helps her to find her own “spikes” and stand up to the bullies.
Told with shadow theatre, Spike is an interactive experience for the audience, with lively original music by Mal Webb. It is entertaining and fun, as well as a catalyst for a discussion about difference and belonging. It also about the unique biology of Australian animals, especially the egg-laying echidna. After the performance there is a demonstration of shadow puppetry techniques, introducing children to an expressive hands-on story-telling medium that is highly accessible to young people.
Starring Jenny Ellis
Written by Jenny Ellis & Anne Brooksbank
Music composed by Mal Webb
Directed by Jacob Williams & Clare Batholomew
Designed by Jenny Ellis, with design concepts by Richard Bradshaw and Fabrizio Montecchi
Puppets, sets and lights by Jenny Ellis, Lauren Redpath, Freya Pitt and Nick Wollan
Audience Comments
“Best show ever!” – Trevor, aged 6, Burnie Arts Centre, TAS
“I loved your show so much!” – Chloe, aged 8, Arts Denmark, WA
“Spike is a great show to introduce kids to live theatre and to engage them at an early age with a family show that provides an experience of participation, very different to watching a movie or TV. The kids and parents all loved it and we can’t wait for them to visit again” – Andrew Frith, General Manager, Arts Margaret River
“Beautiful show, amazing puppets.” – Phoebe, Burrinja Arts Centre, VIC
“The children thoroughly enjoyed Jenny’s performance and left feeling inspired and engaged, asking many questions.” – Alma Loreaux, Teacher, St Lukes Grammar School. NSW
Playing with Light: Shadow Puppetry Workshops
After each performance, Jenny will lead an interactive workshop where children and parents learn simple techniques to create their own shadow puppets and bring their stories to life. Ages 4 – 12.
11:15am & 2:15pm, Wednesday 15 July. $25, for ages 4-12 + adult Find out more here
About Little Wing Puppets
Since 2006, Little Wing Puppets have performed their shows to thousands of children in every state and territory of Australia, as well as overseas. They’re driven by the love of telling stories that speak to children, make them laugh, and passing on skills so kids can create their own worlds through puppetry.
Artistic Director, Jenny Ellis has been making and performing with puppets for over twenty years. She has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Puppetry from the Victorian College of the Arts and a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Environmental Education. Jenny trained with Master Puppeteer Richard Bradshaw through the national Jump mentoring program in 2011. She also received a Major Fellowship in 2012 from the Mike Walsh Foundation to research puppetry in Europe and graduated from the Heilkos School of International Theatre Creation in Florence, Italy in 2014. Little Wing continues to work with a vibrant team of independent artists; writers, directors, designers and composers, to make exceptional that speaks to young people and is ready to travel.
Notes
*The Tuggeranong Arts Centre Theatre is raked steeply. People with mobility issues are advised that the top two and bottom two rows are the most easily accessible. Please advise us if you have mobility issues and we can direct you to your seats.
