ViV! – is a children’s theatre (5-12yrs) show about an adventurous, tough and sassy girl who lives with disabilities and her little sister ‘Lil’.
ViV! merges digital landscapes, puppetry and choreography with an original score played live. Our heroine, ViV, takes the audience on an immersive and sensory journey. She transports us into her imagination, to meet the quirky friends who surf her unique brainwaves and celebrate her for all her “ViVness”.
ViV! offers audiences the chance to meet a hero unlike they have seen before. It is a universal story about familial love, childhood play and how magical we appear in the eyes of our friends. It is a theatrical love letter to the writer, Cath McNamara’s real-life niece, and to all families where disability and inclusion is a fact of daily life. ViV! incorporates immersive audience interaction, switching between the beautiful tactile worlds of puppetry/ movement into highly technical digital projection.
Audiences are immersed in a sensory wonderland, where visuals and sounds blend into a stunning tapestry. A series of “kids’ laboratories” were conducted with local schools allowing students to interact with the show and each other, providing invaluable insights for the artists. This exceptional performance shares ViVs profound experiences, creating a joyous celebration that transcends boundaries, welcoming all children.
ViV! brings together Bathurst-based artists from Compareo, BMEC’s inclusive arts program, alongside talented visiting artists – ‘Compareo’ is Latin for “Be visible, Be present”. It aligns with ViV! in the aim to address the gap in representation of children with disabilities in Australian children’s theatre, particularly in our region of Central West NSW. Together, they craft an unforgettable journey that touches hearts and sparks imaginations.
ViV! is a show with an atypical hero and allows children and young people with disabilities to see themselves represented onstage.
In exciting news ViV! has secured more funding to bring the show to the stage in 2025. Stay tuned as this beautiful show unfolds with more creative developments underway with the design team and actors. ViV! is supported by the Regional Arts Fund, Create NSW, Creative Australia, produced by Arts OutWest and supported by BMEC.
Tickets are not yet on sale for ViV! however the dates have been saved as:
Thursday August 21st 11am and 6:30pm
Friday August 22nd – 11am and 6:30pm
Saturday August 23rd Matinee and final performance – 11am and 6:30pm
Every performance is a relaxed performance with break out spaces available.
