One of the most iconic children's books of all time, The Very Hungry Caterpillar emerges off the page and on to the stage in a masterful theatrical experience at Arts Centre Melbourne from 28 November - 2 December as part of a national tour.

Don’t miss this is a timeless classic for all generations.

Arts Centre Melbourne
100 St Kilda road, Melbourne

Families are invited to experience an array of remarkable theatrical adventures and interactive experiences as part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s 2018 Winter Spring Families program. The creative line-up will feature thrilling new stage adaptations of famous books including Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark, Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine and the much loved The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Children and their families will be able to rock out at the Teeny Tiny Stevies Tea Party, head to the depths of the ocean in the interactive theatre experience Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium, tackle big ideas in The Children’s Party: Think Tank Sessions and be dazzled by The Great Illusionist. Arts Centre Melbourne is also thrilled to welcome back Bamboozle Theatre Company, who will be presenting their new adaptation of the Michael Morpurgo’s Gentle Giant, an immersive, multi-sensory experience for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

“This season celebrates some really exciting artists from Melbourne, Australia and across the world who make extraordinary work for young audiences. Children get the opportunity to dance, participate, watch, listen and contribute in this program – there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy and engage with. ” says Arts Centre Melbourne Creative Producer, Families and Young People Mary Harvey.

From June to November, passionate young people have the chance to participate in The Children’s Party: Think Tank Sessions, a series of workshops responding to the exciting provocations and hot topic issues. The material created will feed into future iterations of The Children’s Party, an interactive arts experience which champions the powerful perspectives of children.

In July little ones and their families will have the chance to experience a Tea Party featuring much-loved children’s band the Teeny Tiny Stevies who will perform their highly anticipated second release Useful Songs for Little People. During the school holidays audiences will also have the opportunity to enter the magical imagination of Alice in Wonderland creator Lewis Carroll in a new ultra-modern steampunk musical adaptation of The Hunting of the Snark.

In August two international theatre makers will return to Arts Centre Melbourne to present new works. The Netherlands’ acclaimed Het Filaal theatermakers will perform a rich multilayered production, The Great Illusionist featuring live music, impressive illusions, magical puppetry and marvellous tricks. Bamboozle Theatre Company, from the UK, will present Gentle Giant, an immersive, multi-sensory experience for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Children will have the chance to the experience an interactive voyage into the ocean in September when the makers of the sell-out hit Dinosaur Zoo present Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium. Roald Dahl’s much-loved book George’s Marvellous Medicine will be brought to life at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse from 25 – 29 September as part of a national tour. Dahl’s classic tale bounds off the page and onto the stage in a spectacular live show for all ages.

ACM Families Program | Winter Spring 2018
Arts Centre Melbourne 
Families Winter/Spring 2018 Bookings: ONLINE or 1300 182 183

The Arts Centre, Melbourne 
100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004

As seen on Channel 10’s Totally Wild! Brat Kids is a  high energy super fun afternoon show for all ages – from tots to teenagers and their mums and dads. The cast are a team of highly skilled acrobats, dancers and circus performers and this show has been created specially to get youngsters excited about circus and getting on stage.
Grab your hula hoop and join the carnival

Brat Kids Carnival is ideal for youngsters with a taste for wild circus skills, pumping music, ridiculous acts of amazement and eye popping party tricks. A noisy, fun, silly afternoon for all ages!

The disorderly Briefs line up comprises Fez Faanana as the ring master, Captain Kidd strutting his hula hooping stuff, one of Australia’s leading aerialists, contortionists and circus trainers, Thomas Worrell, who literally ties himself in knots; Monkey, escaped from New York Zoo, and fresh-faced circus brats Lachy Shelley - from CIRCA ZOO and FLIPSIDE - and Louis Biggs - from FLYING FRUIT FLY CIRCUS.

Brat Kids Carnival comes from the Briefs company which has performed its adult burlesque, circus and cabaret spectacular around the world from London Wonderground to headlining the Glastonbury Festival Big Top, appearances on TV the UK’s John Bishop Show to kids’ fave Totally Wild in August 2016 (filmed at Adelaide Fringe 2016). 

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WHERE
 Famous Spiegeltent

WHEN
1 - 22 Apr 2018

COST
$16 -$20

For BOOKINGS click here
​Running Time 60 minutes 

Famous Spiegeltent
Arts Centre Forecourt, St Kilda Road Melbourne

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The team behind The 13, 26 and 52-Storey Treehouse stage adaptations is back with the newest, biggest, brightest blockbuster in the series, The 78-Storey Treehouse, live on stage at Arts Centre Melbourne from 4 – 22 April 2018.

Andy and Terry’s treehouse just keeps on growing.With yet another 13 levels, it’s now got a Scribbletorium, a high-security potato chip storage facility (guarded by one very angry duck!) and even an open-air movie theatre. 

Speaking of movies, our friends are going to be famous! The legendary Mr Big Shot has arrived to make a Hollywood blockbuster! But when his first step is to fire Andy and replace him with a monkey – well, a gibbon named Mel Gibbon – the battle is on. Will the Treehouse Blockbuster ever get made? Who will win the battle of Andy and Terry? And why are those mysterious spy cows turning up everywhere? 

Throughout the school holidays - stay and play before or after your performance (4-15 April) in the Smorgon Family Plaza.

Bring along your favourite Treehouse book as Andy and Jill will be making an appearance after the 11am and 2pm performances on Wed 4 April.

WHEN
4 - 22 April 2018 

WHERE
Playhouse - Arts Centre

COST
$26 - $45

CLICK HERE FOR BOOKINGS 
The perfect school holiday entertainment for kids aged 6 and up!

The Arts Centre, Melbourne
100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004

Opening night of The Unbelievables at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall definitely lived up to its name. Full of ​dazzling, theatrical, on edge entertainment, as promised from the selection of the finest entertainers, hand-picked from stages from around the world.

The show had our family on the edge of their seats not knowing what to expect next.  
​The show was full of heart-stopping thrills and spills together with hilarious comedy and sensational ballroom performances by a troupe of top professional dancers from Australia and the around the world. 

The Host Harrison Greenbaum  is described by Time Out New York as “the hardest working man in comedy”, one of the most in-demand comics in the United States and performs more than 600 shows a year. Its Harrison’s quick wit, which makes him the perfect master host for The Unbelievables. Hecklers beware!

​Sos and Victoria Petrosyan - The Transformationalists
One of the kids favorite Sos and Victoria are a husband and wife duo like no other! The award winning duo combine fashion, stage-craft and sleight-of-hand to dazzle audiences all over the world. The remarkable couple hold four Guinness World Records in High-Speed Costume Change Illusions (the fastest 16 costumes in 120 seconds!). Just when we thought their performance  was over they surprised us again and again with more costume changes 16 in total ! They left us amazed with every change.

Shin Lim is the Reigning World  Champion for Close Up Magic. His mind boggling finger moves have confused even the pros in the industry. Shin has appeared twice on British-American television programme Penn & Teller: Fool Us a segment with over 47 million views on YouTube, managing to completely stump professional magicians with the tricks he performed. 

Jay Johnson - The Ventriloquist
Tony Award Winner Jay Johnson had us all in stitches! The one-man duet who has perfected his craft over 30 years is the best of the best when it comes to entertaining the audience.  To date Jay has hosted three comedy specials, produced and performed in two network television specials, two HBO specials, hundreds of guest appearances and starred in four television series. However extensive his television credits are doesn't compare to the thrill of seeing him perform live on stage. His one man show “Jay Johnson: The Two and Only” opened on Broadway to rave reviews and won him the American Theatre Wing TONY Award for “Best Theatrical Event” for 2007.

Brett Loudermilk - The Blademaster had us all on the edge of our seats, one of the youngest professional sword swallowers in the world and dubbed a “master showman” by Neil Patrick Harris.Brett Loudermilk has performed in over 20 countries and shared the stage with everyone from Perez Hilton to Snoop Dogg and Penn and Teller. An expert on the history of magic and sideshow performance, Loudermilk had us covering our eyes but wanting to see more.

Julia Kurkina - Whilst studying various graphic techniques like watercolour painting, engraving and ink drawing, Julia became fascinated by the vivacity, flow and complexity of creating art with sand. In 2012 Julia joined the studio of sand animation in Kharkov, Ukraine and began spending 24 hours per day perfecting the craft of sand drawing. Today she is world renowned artist performing all over the world and her sand drawing videos have gone viral online. 

Robert Karlos - The Dexterous Dynamo is a fast, furious and dexterously skilled speed juggler from Mexico.  His skills are mind blowing. Seeing him on stage juggleing with no hands!! yep you heard right NO HANDS it was an absolute highlight and nothing we have ever seen before!

The show also featured live music throughout the night from an incredible swing band lead by Matt Cusson and vocals by Emi Secrest, her beautiful vocals complemented the night and her solo performance of "Natural Woman" was awe-inspiring.

Don't miss your chance to see the world's most truly unbelievable experience! 
The Show really lives up to its name - The Unbelievables, and we highly recommend everyone to experience this unique show before it leaves Melbourne! The show not only appealed to us as adults but our children aged 7 and 9 absolutely loved the whole production.

WHEN
3rd - 13th January 2018

WHERE
Arts Centre Melbourne

COST
$39-$120. Family pricing (up to 4 tickets) also available - $99 

For more info and Bookings click HERE or 1300 182 183

Arts Centre Melbourne
100 St Kilda Road
Melbourne VIC 3004