Creature: An Adaptation of Dot and the Kangaroo

Aerial acrobatics, dance, music and interactive, digital projections come together in this visually striking adaptation of the Australian children’s classic Dot and the Kangaroo.

Written by Ethel Pedley 112 years ago, this timeless classic tells the tale of Dot, who is lost in the bush and rescued by a kangaroo. Giving Dot magical berries to help her understand the animals around her, Mrs Kangaroo guides her home with the help of some quirky and loveable creatures.

Stalker Theatre’s production invites the audience to use their imaginations as it takes them on an enchanting adventure, exploring the wonder and magic of the Australian bush and raising some important questions about the impact humans have on our native wildlife.

The performers take on the roles of some of our unique fauna including a cheeky kookaburra, a haughty platypus, a cautious hare, a sprightly willie wagtail and the protective and loyal kangaroo.

The beauty of the movement in this show is what stood out for me. The performers were agile and nimble and had obviously studied the animals they were portraying in depth. They mirrored each creature’s movements perfectly from the way they hoped, jumped, ran and flew to their posture, stance and facial expressions. They were a joy to watch, particularly the stunning brolga routine which was a graceful blend of movement, aerial work and music.

The large scale projections creatively illustrated the beauty of the Australian landscape while responding to the movement of the performers. As a new animal appeared on stage, the creature was reflected on screen in what reminded me of the style of Aboriginal dot paintings. The music, sound effects and ethereal voice of Ursula Yovich (one of the Top 21 most iconic Women of the Australian Stage, Page, and Screen) also created atmosphere, mood and drama.

My children, who have really only seen acrobatics and aerial routines performed at a circus, loved how these were incorporated into the story telling and that the performers came up close, even flying over them. While the show is promoted as being for 5-8 year olds, my four year old sat through most of the performance with his mouth open in amazement.

This was a unique and truly Australian theatrical experience which we all loved.

Review by Shannon O’Connell

Photographer: Jacquie Manning.