Where is the Green Sheep?
Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s Where is the Green Sheep? is a warm, woolly burst of theatrical delight that springs straight from the pages of Mem Fox and Judy Horacek’s beloved picture book and frolics joyfully onto the stage. As part of QPAC’s Out of the Box Festival, this world premiere invites audiences into a pasture of puppets, projections, and playful sheepishness that’s tailor-made for young hearts—and the grown-ups lucky enough to tag along.
This immersive visual theatre experience follows three farmer friends as they search high and low, near and far, for the elusive Green Sheep. Along the way, we meet a colourful flock of characters: cartwheeling red sheep, flower-loving blue sheep, even two sheep in outer space. While there’s no live dialogue, narration by children from Bankstown West Public School in pre-recorded audio gives the story an authenticity and joy that relates beautifully with the young audience. It’s a small but powerful choice and a perfect way to connect meaningfully with children.
Director Eva Di Cesare has crafted a work that hums with care, wit, and wonder. The production’s design elements all evoke a sense of delight. Tobhiyah Stone Feller’s set and Susie Henderson’s video design blend seamlessly, with backdrops and props based on Horacek’s original illustrations. It’s a feast for fans of the book. Bright colours, expressive lines, and delightfully simple animations form a lovingly familiar visual language that also finds inventive ways to surprise.
Puppetry and animation work in tight tandem, with lighting by Matt Cox and sound by Zac Saric supporting the illusion with elegant restraint. There are moments when the characters’ transitions from the digital to physical world is timed so precisely—like the appearance of the moon and star sheep—that it draws audible gasps. Puppet designer Kay Yasugi and puppetry director Kailah Cabanas deserve special mention for creating characters that feel fully alive, expressive, and entirely at home in the illustrated world.
It’s a flock load of fun from the moment the performers enter through the audience and start gently interacting with wide-eyed children in the stalls. It’s not theatre that talks at kids—it plays with them. The sense of wonder is shared equally across the ages and even the most jaded adult in the room can’t help but crack a smile.
The trio of performers—Paul Grabovac, Michael Ho, and Lucia May—bring the world to life with charisma and finesse. Grabovac is particularly charming, with a warm presence and impressive emotional range. Ho’s discipline and attention to detail shine in his physicality and puppetry; his focus is laser-sharp and deeply effective. May radiates vibrant energy, and her expressive face and physical storytelling is captivating. Together, the three actors navigate mime, choreography (including a delightful Singin’ in the Rain nod), and sheep-wrangling with grace and good humour.
There’s laughter, awe, a lot of adventure, and one very elusive sheep. At its heart, Where is the Green Sheep? is not just a story about finding something—it’s about enjoying the journey and noticing all the beauty and silliness along the way. That message lands with a gentle, joyful thud, just like a well-loved bedtime storybook closing shut.
This is one of the cutest shows I’ve ever seen. But cuteness alone isn’t what makes it so successful—it’s the intelligence, intention, and craft that underpins the whimsy. Monkey Baa Theatre Company, with QPAC’s Out of the Box Festival, has created something that feels genuinely special. Where is the Green Sheep? is a charming, clever, and irresistibly woolly adventure that enchants tiny humans and big kids alike. For many little ones, this may be their first time at the theatre. What a marvellous introduction. Pack your imagination, bring your giggle, and go find that green sheep. You won’t be sorry.
Kitty Goodall
Photography by Robert Catto
Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.