Well

Well

Supporters
City of Newcastle
New Annual Festival

Restore the lost magic of an imaginary world

Enter the world of Well; an immersive narrative journey for audiences aged 6-11. Skilled theatre artists lead children on a journey of make-believe where they travel through every corner of the theatre on a quest to restore the lost magic of an imaginary world. On their way they encounter puppets, characters and games and must work together to progress through the story. The children cross a magical river, encounter a wise sage and pass through a wishing well into the belly of a mountain. Well centres children at the heart of the theatrical action and nurtures empathy, emotional bravery and collaboration through creative play.

Enter through the great gates and travel into the locked rooms, dark tunnels and hidden corners of the Fort to discover Hamlet’s story. 14 local actors will present curated scenes in the culmination of an intensive actor training program and transform our beloved local site into the gothic coastal castle of Elsinore.

This is Hamlet as you’ve never seen it before—site-specific, gripping, with an adapted retelling under the rising full moon.

SUPPORTING CHILDREN’S VOICES

The Inspiration

This show was born from a desire to create spaces that support children’s voices and celebrate the wonder of their imaginations through their innate language of play. For the most part the world that children inhabit is designed for adults and is governed by parents, teachers and other adult rule makers. In Well we seek to reframe the world and orient children at the centre by inviting them to become the agents of theatrical action and develop new tools for living in our changing world.

WELL is a commission by the City of Newcastle’s New Annual Festival.

“I didn’t want it to finish”

Alex, aged 5, Audience member

“I loved going through the world”

Alice, aged 7, Audience member

“I liked the frog and I wish I was still there”

Ilsa, aged 6, Audience member

“Well that was the best children’s experience I have seen in a long time, maybe ever…From the minute we arrived in the foyer the fantasy began as we were encouraged to imagine worlds and adventures, the children’s ideas became an important entry point to the story and allowed the kids to have creative input throughout the experience…The children loved it, the adults loved it, given a chance I’d come again!”

Aesha Henderson, Creative Producer, Brand X
“I really liked it. The sence of adventcher and hope it was the best thing ever”
Ellie, Audience member

“Dear Juanita + Co. Thank you. This was the most unique experience Charlotte & Pearl have had this year… possibly this decade. Thank you”

Parent