Spike

Wednesday 1 July 11:00am                                                                   Theatre TwoSpike 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 other children are bullying her. 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 accidentally puts him in dangerous situations – in the nest of a crocodile, an emu and a turtle. He feels frightened, rejected, and 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 is 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 storytelling 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 FrithDuration: 40 minutes no intermissionAll Tickets: $10

until 1 July 2026

West Gippsland Arts Centre