Rainbow stories brought to life

What happens when you invite seven children from Rainbow Families to create a show?

You end up with a disco koala, a wildebeest, a farting unicorn and a fairy that can freeze tickle monsters all cohabiting in a very tall, yet tiny Rainbow Tree.

This is what it’s like living in a Rainbow Family. Everyone is welcome and anything is possible.

The Rainbow Tree is musical storytelling with moving image. Written with children from Rainbows Families, it shares personal and imagined stories around the idea of family, identity and community.

Performed by two queer super Aunties, Aunty Bear and ZaZa from Fat Fruit (Bec Matthews and Sarah Ward) with singing and live music, played on instruments and objects you could find around the house.

The songs are brought to life through the projected visual images of Jolyon James (Arena Theatre Company) featuring animation, illustrations and the children themselves.

The stories of The Rainbow Tree were collected through Zoom meetings during the six-month Melbourne lockdown.

These children were isolated from their friends and extended families and had limited opportunity for adventures.

This did not stop them imagining new worlds to explore – worlds inhabited by animals and magical beings, where they could be super versions of themselves and dig up 4005 golden cupcakes.

The performance is playful, imaginative and interactive. It’s filled with fun visual imagery, wonderful original songs and live music.

The Rainbow Tree by Fat Fruit is suitable for children aged 4-8 and their adults, and is performed over 45 minutes with no interval at Geelong Arts Centre on January 19 at 10am and 1pm and on January 20 at 10am and 1pm.

Purchase at geelongartscentre.org.au/whats-on/all-events/the-rainbow-tree or contact the Geelong Arts Centre Box Office between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday by phoning 1300 251 200 or emailing [email protected]

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