Reviews
31 March 2025
“There, among the creatures of intricate craftsmanship, was a different kind of artistry at play — the artistry of investigating, mentoring, discovering, and growing together.”
Our Creative Learning Producer, Anna Johnstone, reflects on Canberra Youth Theatre’s collaboration with Erth, and what happens when arts organisations work together.
Beneath the open sky of Glebe Park, The Nature of Things invited audiences into an immersive world, where creatures of nature roamed, and puppets prowled and played. Audiences were invited to sing with the trees, to call out to Fauna—a living entity deeply connected to the land, the world, and its people. Over eleven unforgettable evenings, members of the Canberra Youth Theatre community, Erth, and Dionysus transformed the city park into a living, breathing performance space, blurring the line between observer and participant in a truly immersive experience.
If you had stepped behind the towering puppets and into the world of The Nature of Things, you would have found something just as extraordinary as the performance itself: the young artists, their mentors, and the invisible threads of collaboration that wove this project together.
This year, I had the privilege of witnessing not only the living, breathing, wonder-provoking spectacle that Erth has become known for, but also the quieter moments of magic behind the scenes. There, among the creatures of intricate craftsmanship, was a different kind of artistry at play—the artistry of investigating, mentoring, discovering, and growing together.
71 young artists aged 7 – 25 from the Canberra Youth Theatre community found themselves immersed in a world where professional and emerging practitioners worked side by side, their conversations shifting from the technical skills of puppetry to personal journeys – school, friendships and the other interests that shape them as artists and individuals. In the hum of backstage discussions, skills were exchanged, confidence grew, and friendships were seeded. The layering of experience was evident — first encountering the mechanics of each puppet, then refining their movements, developing complexity, and ultimately uncovering the beauty in the raw, instinctive ways that children (and animals) interact with the world.
And then there were the invisible threads of collaboration, the unspoken gestures of care that held the ensemble together. A child stumbles and an older artist instinctively reaches out to steady them. Ice blocks are passed around, the younger ones are assisted by sure hands that help to rip open the wrappers. Oranges are eaten in a shared circle, as stories from the evening are told with quiet reverence, each person’s experience held with attentive care and encouragement.
One young artist, initially too shy to contribute to the evening debriefs, self-censoring for fear of sounding silly in front of those they admired, gradually found their voice. By the end of the week, they spoke with confidence, reflecting with depth and care, no longer fearing that they might “get it wrong.” Another puppeteered the baby polar bear with such authenticity that the audience’s disbelief melted away—they weren’t watching a performance, but an endangered creature in the wild, doing its laundry and wondering how a washing machine had found its way to such a remote location as Glebe Park in Canberra.
Each night, the young artists shaped the rhythm of their own experience. The organic way the evenings unfolded—through quiet deliberation, instinct, and an unspoken trust—was a testament to Erth Visual & Physical Inc. and the ownership they allowed the young artists to have over this world they had helped to bring to life. The artists stood up for each other, celebrated when someone excelled and found joy in the smallest moments of growth.
What made this project sing wasn’t just the intricate puppets or the impactful storytelling, but the people. The beautiful team from Erth — so generous of spirit, so trusting — stood as guiding lights in every way. With their warmth, wisdom, and unwavering support, they illuminated the path for young artists, not by leading from the front, but by walking beside them, ensuring they always felt seen, valued, and empowered to shine.
Erth’s Artistic Director, Scott Wright, has a gift in his ability to notice and acknowledge the often-overlooked aspects of a person, engaging with young artists with the same curiosity and respect as his peers. To truly see young artists—not just as students, but as complex individuals with their own voices, ideas, and creative instincts, fostering an environment where they are empowered to self-determine their goals and artistic vision.
Our Production Manager, Rhiley’s unrelenting patience, steady guidance, organisation and infectious sense of fun were a constant. They have an endless reserve of energy and will play requested games until their bitter, withering end!
Theatre is magical, whether under stage lights or beneath the open sky. It has a way of connecting people in ways we don’t always understand, unlocking something within us that exists only in these fleeting, extraordinary circumstances. Perhaps the most striking realisation was this: why don’t we create more spaces like this in everyday life? Spaces where multiple generations can collaborate, mentor, and create together—not in hierarchical structures, but in the fluid exchange of knowledge, experience, and shared wonder.
The Nature of Things was not just a performance; it was a living, breathing testament to the power of intergenerational collaboration. A reminder that, when given the chance, young people don’t just step up—they transform, they lead, and they contribute something truly extraordinary.The Nature of Things is a legacy—one that continues to ripple through the Canberra community, leaving behind not just memories, but a vision of what is possible when we contribute, build and wonder together.
Anna Johnstone is a theatre director and performing arts educator rooted in the cultural landscape of Ngunnawal Country, Canberra. As the Creative Learning Producer at Canberra Youth Theatre, Anna’s focus lies in bridging creativity and education with teachers and aspiring artists.
