It’s pretty impossible not to get excited about the school holidays in Spring. The weather is warming up, the countryside is erupting with blossoms and there is new energy everywhere – especially in the children who often seem like skittish lambs at this time of year!

It is also the time of year that offers the very best range of arts events for children. Getting involved in the arts is not only a fabulous family experience, it is also an investment into something that will keep giving for many years to come, as AWESOME Festival Director Jenny Simpson put so beautifully in “How the arts equip children for life”.

It’s not always easy to find out what’s on, so we’ve put together a list of quality arts experiences for children and their families this spring.

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre are a reliable first stop for family theatre, and this month they are launching a brand-new show The One Who Planted Trees. In this inspirational musical Bandicoot, Koala and Frill Necked lizard regale their story of a woman who transforms her world to bring about hope and happiness for herself and the world around her. The season runs 25 September – 9 October for ages 5+ and promises to have you humming out of the theatre, pulling out the spade and watering plants into the ground.

Annette Carmichael and award-winning choreographer Sandi Woo return with their third season of the community dance project Because of You… this time based in Gosnells. This unique project is created with children aged 4 – 7 years old with a significant adult in their life. The performance is made through a series of fun and playful workshops where performers learn a series of games which they play during the show. The season runs 17 – 18 September at the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre.

Another adventure for little ones is The Beyond Realms’ new interactive show Beyond the Treasure Chest running  28 Sept – 8 October for ages 3 – 7. Seesaw’s junior reviewers checked out their last production and loved the magical costumes and immersive set design.

For the budding artists, head to the Art Gallery of WA or Fremantle Arts Centre for their school holiday art workshops and exhibitions.

The Gallery is one of many venues in the Perth Cultural Centre hosting events as part of the AWESOME Festival. Running 27 September – 2 October, the Festival offers families an enormous tasting plate of high quality arts events at subsidised prices. It includes collaborations with the West Australian Opera (a new Noongar opera called Koolbardi wer Wardong) and the West Australian Ballet (a gorgeous production of Peter and the Wolf). There are also interstate companies like Windmill Theatre who are bringing their production of Hiccup!, a musical about a Koala with the hiccups, plus a vast array of workshops for those wanting to paint/laugh/act/clown or even sleep! A must-see addition to your school holidays.  

Keep an eye on Seesaw Magazine as there will be dozens of reviews coming in over the holidays, many from our junior critics who will be keeping you informed. And don’t forget to share your own responses on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

For more information on what’s on check out Seesaw’s podcast Your Arts Playground.

Pictured top: Introducing Frilly, Bandicoot and Koala, who star in Spare Parts Puppet’s new show ‘The One Who Planted Trees’. Photo Rebecca Mansell