Spike

Spike is the story of an echidna who is stolen from his nest by a greedy rat.  

He hatches from his egg far away from home. A young girl finds him. She is playing alone in the bush because she is being bullied by other children. He has no spikes yet and she doesn’t know what kind of creature he is. She tries to work out where he comes from but accidently puts him in dangerous situations – in the nest of a crocodile, an emu and a turtle. He feels frightened, rejected, alone. As the story unfolds, she helps him to discover where he belongs, and he helps her to find her own “spikes” and stand up to the bullies.  

Told with shadow theatre, Spike is an interactive experience for the audience, with lively original music by Mal Webb. It is entertaining and fun, as well as a catalyst for a discussion about difference and belonging. It also about the unique biology of Australian animals, especially the egg-laying echidna. After the performance there is a demonstration of shadow puppetry techniques, introducing children to an expressive hands-on story-telling medium that is highly accessible to young people.

“Spike is a great show to introduce kids to live theatre and to engage them at an early age with a family show that provides an experience of participation, very different to watching a movie or TV. The kids and parents all loved it and we can’t wait for them to visit again” - Andrew Frith, General Manager, Arts Margaret River 

Credits

Starring Jenny Ellis

Written By Jenny Ellis & Anne Brooksbank

Composed By Mal Webb

Directed By Jacob Williams & Clare Batholomew

Designed By Jenny Ellis, with design concepts by Richard Bradshaw and Fabrizio Montecchi

Puppets, Sets and Lights By Jenny Ellis, Lauren Redpath, Freya Pitt and Nick Wollan