Saltbush

upcoming Project

Children’s Cheering Carpet – Saltbush is an immersive and interactive journey through the culture and language of Aboriginal Australia.

Produced by
Insite Arts and Compagnia TPO

Saltbush is a plant that can be found throughout Australia in almost all Aboriginal lands, and so it represents a common thread between all the different nations of Australian Indigenous peoples. This shared idea acted as a point of inspiration for the narrative, contemporary painting, dance and instrumental music that were created by the Aboriginal artists in this production. These artistic forms were used as a means of interpreting the natural features of the landscape in an Indigenous mythological context.

Through its sensor and infrared cameras, allows the children to interact, play and perform in the production and provides an immersive experience of the artwork. This also provides a unique experience for parents and teachers as they watch the children become involved.

The narrative centres on the journey of two friends and their spiritual guide on foot as they cross Australian landscapes – river country, an urban landscape, desert and the sea. The journey is one of discovering the land, growing an understanding and acknowledging how it challenges or provokes personal journeys.

TPO’s award winning artistry in multi-media theatre for young people is combined with the work of acclaimed professional Aboriginal artists Lou Bennett (music), Delwyn Mannix (visual art), Deon Hastie and Anna Balducci (choreography), Sasha Zahra (dramaturgy) under the artistic direction of former Come Out director Jason Cross and TPO director Davide Venturini.

Performance History

  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009

Sydney Opera House →

Sydney, Australia

Monkeybaa →

Australia

HOTA →

Australia

NAISDA →

Australia

Dancehouse →

Australia

Xi'an Music Hall

China

Kunshan Hubnovo

China

Linping Hubnovo

China

Grounded – Adelaide

Australia

Chengdu Play House

China

Tianjin Arts Centre

China

Zhengzhou New Arts Centre

China

Wyndham Cultural Centre – Werribee

Australia

Wuhan

China

Suzhou

China

Ningbo

China

SESC Belenzinho – São Paulo

Brazil

State Theatre Centre – Perth

Australia

Albany Entertainment Centre

Australia

Mandurah Performing Arts Centre

Australia

Arts Margaret River

Australia

Darwin Entertainment Centre

Australia

Godinymayin Yijard Arts and Cultural Centre – Katherine

Australia

Desert Harmony Festival – Tennant Creek

Australia

Manning Entertainment Centre – Taree

Australia

Bathurst Memorial Centre

Australia

Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre – Nowra

Australia

Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre – Penrith

Australia

Frankston Arts Centre

Australia

Geelong Performing Arts Centre

Australia

Colac-Otway Performing Arts Centre

Australia

Sydney Opera House

Australia

Riverside Theatres – Parramatta

Australia

Shanghai

China

First China Family Festival – Shanghai

China

Sendai

Japan

New Victory Theater – New York

USA

Adam Smith Theatre – Kircaldy

Scotland

Universal Hall – Findhorn

Scotland

Tron Theatre – Glasgow

Scotland

Beacon Arts Centre

Scotland

Kijimuna Festa

Japan

Szene Bunte Wähne

Austria

International Performing Arts for Youth

USA

Taipei Children’s Arts Festival

China

Macau Cultural Centre

China

Musee De Quai Branly

France

Assitej Korea Summer Festival

South Korea

National Theatre of Korea

South Korea

Chuncheon Mime Festival

South Korea

Goeje Arts Centre

South Korea

Lig Arts Centre

South Korea

Adelaide Festival Centre

Australia

Castlemaine State Festival

Australia

Artplay – Melbourne

Australia

Sydney Opera House

Australia

Campbelltown Arts Centre – Sydney

Australia

Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre – Penrith

Australia

Riverside Theatres – Parramatta

Australia

Teatro Metastasio Stabile Della Toscana

Italy

Come Out Festival – Adelaide

Australia

Artplay – Melbourne

Australia

Media

“Children’s theatre doesn’t get any better than this. This inspired array of Italian and Aboriginal artists is the perfect fusion of dance, art and breathtaking digital design.”

Sunday Mail

“Created for children aged four to eight, the show is an impressive and ingenious combination of modern technology with the traditions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures of Australia.”

Herald Scotland

“A sumptuous interactive journey of movement and colour through Aboriginal Australia.”

EdinburghGuide.com

Credits

Co-artistic directors
Davide Venturini
Jason Cross
Dramaturgy
Sasha Zahra
Choreographers
Deon Hastie
Tjapukai
Anna Balducci
Composer and Musician
Lou Bennett
Yorta Yorta/Dja Dja Wurrung
with Spartaco Cortesi
Original Cast
Rosealee Pearson
Yolngu
Sani Townson
Saibai Koedal
Current Cast
Jada Alberts
Larrakia
Syrenne Anu
Kuku Yalanji, Woppaburra, Butchulla & Kalaw Kawaw Ya
Luke Currie-Richardson
Kuku Yalanji, Djabugay, Munaldjali, Butchulla & Meriam
Jordan O'Davis
Waka Waka, Yuggarah & Awabakai
Visual Artist and Designer
Delwyn Mannix
Wangkangurru
Digital Designer
Elsa Mersi
Technical Designer
Rossano Monti

Supporters

Contact

Producer
Jason Cross → Email