Written by Joshua, Billy, Nasa and Curtis - Ardeer Primary School

Music by Angus Conley
Artwork by Emmy Webbers

Stories in the Wall 2023 – Animal Adventures is a collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and selected Victorian primary schools in which students work closely alongside professional playwrights to create and develop a radio play. Students also had the exciting roles of voice acting their character parts in a studio here at Arts Centre Melbourne.

This year the students of Lancefield Primary, Sunshine Primary, Ardeer Primary and St Albans Meadow Primary explored the theme of "Animal Adventures" inspired by the trans-Tasman First Nations collaboration production 'Hide the Dog’.

Following the recording of the students' stories, the last creative component to bring these stories to life was music composition and sound design. This saw a collaboration with the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music - home of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. We worked closely with 13 emerging composers who created original music and sound to amplify the stories enabling us as listeners to immerse ourselves into the world created by our young writers!

 These stories will have you venturing through forests, desserts and even Antarctica as our young creatives take us on a grand old ANIMAL ADVENUTURE!

The Battle of the Kings

Written by Kaitlyn, Elisha, Mackayla, Kaely and Alena - St Albans Meadows Primary School

Music by Asha Carslaw-Maher
Artwork by Emmy Webbers

Stories in the Wall 2023 – Animal Adventures is a collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and selected Victorian primary schools in which students work closely alongside professional playwrights to create and develop a radio play. Students also had the exciting roles of voice acting their character parts in a studio here at Arts Centre Melbourne.

This year the students of Lancefield Primary, Sunshine Primary, Ardeer Primary and St Albans Meadow Primary explored the theme of "Animal Adventures" inspired by the trans-Tasman First Nations collaboration production 'Hide the Dog’.

Following the recording of the students' stories, the last creative component to bring these stories to life was music composition and sound design. This saw a collaboration with the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music - home of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. We worked closely with 13 emerging composers who created original music and sound to amplify the stories enabling us as listeners to immerse ourselves into the world created by our young writers!

 These stories will have you venturing through forests, desserts and even Antarctica as our young creatives take us on a grand old ANIMAL ADVENUTURE!

Gone Rogue

Written by Chelsea, Rivah, Cailen and Ari - Ardeer Primary School

Music by Keegan Joyce
Artwork by Emmy Webbers

Stories in the Wall 2023 – Animal Adventures is a collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and selected Victorian primary schools in which students work closely alongside professional playwrights to create and develop a radio play. Students also had the exciting roles of voice acting their character parts in a studio here at Arts Centre Melbourne.

This year the students of Lancefield Primary, Sunshine Primary, Ardeer Primary and St Albans Meadow Primary explored the theme of "Animal Adventures" inspired by the trans-Tasman First Nations collaboration production 'Hide the Dog’.

Following the recording of the students' stories, the last creative component to bring these stories to life was music composition and sound design. This saw a collaboration with the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music - home of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. We worked closely with 13 emerging composers who created original music and sound to amplify the stories enabling us as listeners to immerse ourselves into the world created by our young writers!

 These stories will have you venturing through forests, desserts and even Antarctica as our young creatives take us on a grand old ANIMAL ADVENUTURE!

The Scientist's Revenge

Written by India, James, Darcy and Jake - Lancefield Primary School

Music by Matthew Flattley
Artwork by Emmy Webbers

Stories in the Wall 2023 – Animal Adventures is a collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and selected Victorian primary schools in which students work closely alongside professional playwrights to create and develop a radio play. Students also had the exciting roles of voice acting their character parts in a studio here at Arts Centre Melbourne.

This year the students of Lancefield Primary, Sunshine Primary, Ardeer Primary and St Albans Meadow Primary explored the theme of "Animal Adventures" inspired by the trans-Tasman First Nations collaboration production 'Hide the Dog’.

Following the recording of the students' stories, the last creative component to bring these stories to life was music composition and sound design. This saw a collaboration with the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music - home of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. We worked closely with 13 emerging composers who created original music and sound to amplify the stories enabling us as listeners to immerse ourselves into the world created by our young writers!

 These stories will have you venturing through forests, desserts and even Antarctica as our young creatives take us on a grand old ANIMAL ADVENUTURE!

Jungle Shenanigans

Written by Teddy, Luke, Ezra, Thomas and Lachlan - Lancefield Primary School

Music by Dean Eliott
Artwork by Emmy Webbers

Stories in the Wall 2023 – Animal Adventures is a collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and selected Victorian primary schools in which students work closely alongside professional playwrights to create and develop a radio play. Students also had the exciting roles of voice acting their character parts in a studio here at Arts Centre Melbourne.

This year the students of Lancefield Primary, Sunshine Primary, Ardeer Primary and St Albans Meadow Primary explored the theme of "Animal Adventures" inspired by the trans-Tasman First Nations collaboration production 'Hide the Dog’.

Following the recording of the students' stories, the last creative component to bring these stories to life was music composition and sound design. This saw a collaboration with the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music - home of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. We worked closely with 13 emerging composers who created original music and sound to amplify the stories enabling us as listeners to immerse ourselves into the world created by our young writers!

 These stories will have you venturing through forests, desserts and even Antarctica as our young creatives take us on a grand old ANIMAL ADVENUTURE!

The journey of Apollo Animals

Written by Abbi, Indie, Lily, Orbella and Evie - Lancefield Primary School

Music by Qinghua Tan
Artwork by Emmy Webbers

Stories in the Wall 2023 – Animal Adventures is a collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and selected Victorian primary schools in which students work closely alongside professional playwrights to create and develop a radio play. Students also had the exciting roles of voice acting their character parts in a studio here at Arts Centre Melbourne.

This year the students of Lancefield Primary, Sunshine Primary, Ardeer Primary and St Albans Meadow Primary explored the theme of "Animal Adventures" inspired by the trans-Tasman First Nations collaboration production 'Hide the Dog’.

Following the recording of the students' stories, the last creative component to bring these stories to life was music composition and sound design. This saw a collaboration with the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music - home of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. We worked closely with 13 emerging composers who created original music and sound to amplify the stories enabling us as listeners to immerse ourselves into the world created by our young writers!

 These stories will have you venturing through forests, desserts and even Antarctica as our young creatives take us on a grand old ANIMAL ADVENUTURE!

The Great Escape

Written by Kaitlyn, Emilie, Eshaal and Mohamed - Sunshine Primary School

Music by Charlie Stewart
Artwork by Emmy Webbers

Stories in the Wall 2023 – Animal Adventures is a collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and selected Victorian primary schools in which students work closely alongside professional playwrights to create and develop a radio play. Students also had the exciting roles of voice acting their character parts in a studio here at Arts Centre Melbourne.

This year the students of Lancefield Primary, Sunshine Primary, Ardeer Primary and St Albans Meadow Primary explored the theme of "Animal Adventures" inspired by the trans-Tasman First Nations collaboration production 'Hide the Dog’.

Following the recording of the students' stories, the last creative component to bring these stories to life was music composition and sound design. This saw a collaboration with the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music - home of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. We worked closely with 13 emerging composers who created original music and sound to amplify the stories enabling us as listeners to immerse ourselves into the world created by our young writers!

 These stories will have you venturing through forests, desserts and even Antarctica as our young creatives take us on a grand old ANIMAL ADVENUTURE!

The Forest Disaster

Written by Amelia, Lucy, Ella, Niamh and Charlee - Lancefield Primary School

Music by Kaylah Thomas
Artwork by Emmy Webbers

Stories in the Wall 2023 – Animal Adventures is a collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and selected Victorian primary schools in which students work closely alongside professional playwrights to create and develop a radio play. Students also had the exciting roles of voice acting their character parts in a studio here at Arts Centre Melbourne.

This year the students of Lancefield Primary, Sunshine Primary, Ardeer Primary and St Albans Meadow Primary explored the theme of "Animal Adventures" inspired by the trans-Tasman First Nations collaboration production 'Hide the Dog’.

Following the recording of the students' stories, the last creative component to bring these stories to life was music composition and sound design. This saw a collaboration with the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music - home of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. We worked closely with 13 emerging composers who created original music and sound to amplify the stories enabling us as listeners to immerse ourselves into the world created by our young writers!

 These stories will have you venturing through forests, desserts and even Antarctica as our young creatives take us on a grand old ANIMAL ADVENUTURE!

The Golden City of Pygmy Possums

Written by William, Shantee, Zehra, Aisha and Nahum - Ardeer Primary School

Music by Thomas Fernando
Artwork by Emmy Webbers

Stories in the Wall 2023 – Animal Adventures is a collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and selected Victorian primary schools in which students work closely alongside professional playwrights to create and develop a radio play. Students also had the exciting roles of voice acting their character parts in a studio here at Arts Centre Melbourne.

This year the students of Lancefield Primary, Sunshine Primary, Ardeer Primary and St Albans Meadow Primary explored the theme of "Animal Adventures" inspired by the trans-Tasman First Nations collaboration production 'Hide the Dog’.

Following the recording of the students' stories, the last creative component to bring these stories to life was music composition and sound design. This saw a collaboration with the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music - home of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. We worked closely with 13 emerging composers who created original music and sound to amplify the stories enabling us as listeners to immerse ourselves into the world created by our young writers!

These stories will have you venturing through forests, desserts and even Antarctica as our young creatives take us on a grand old ANIMAL ADVENUTURE!

The Mystery Culprit

Listen to the full transcript of Arts Centre Melbourne's Disability, Equity and Inclusion Plan Part A.

Disability, Equity and Inclusion Plan Part A 2023 (Full audio)

Storyteller: Stacey Edwards | Audio Producer: James Milsom | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Maya Ward | Audio Producer: Bec Fary | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Matthew Crawford | Audio Producer: Matthew Crawford | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Lynn Mowson | Audio Producer: Camilla Hannan | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Lola | Audio Producers: Jackson Castiglione & Camilla Hannan | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Lionel | Audio Producer: Bethany Atkinson-Quinton | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Ky-Ya  Nicholson-Ward | Audio Producers: Rachael Hocking & James Milsom

Storyteller: Jon Tjhia | Audio Producer: Jon Tjhia | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Jeff Weir | Audio Producer: Miyuki Jokiranta | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Hamish Turner | Audio Producer: Hannah Reich | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Glen Morrow | Audio Producer: Glen Morrow | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Donald Gibb | Audio Producer: Michelle Macklem | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: David Barton | Audio Producer: Georgia Moodie | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Chris Stevenson | Audio Producer: Sam Loy | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Anja Kanngieser | Audio Producer: Anja Kanngieser | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Amy | Audio Producer: Thanh Hằng Phạm | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Alan Reed | Audio Producer: Camilla Hannan | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Tom Dowling | Audio Producer: Sam Loy | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Tasma Walton | Audio Producer: Camilla Hannan/James Milsom | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Magica Fossati | Audio Producer: Magica Fossati | Melbourne Commission

Storyteller: Bilal | Audio Producer: Melissa Viney | Empathy Museum Collection

Storyteller: Clare Griffiths | Audio Producer: Karen Gregor | Empathy Museum Collection

Storyteller: Ramla Ali | Audio Producer: Rachel Simpson | Empathy Museum Collection

Storyteller: Paddi Creevey | Audio Producer: Meri Fatin | Empathy Museum Collection

Storyteller: Kaliyugan Pathmanathan | Audio Producer: Meri Fatin | Empathy Museum Collection

Storyteller: Jeremy Smith | Audio Producer: Marnie Richardson | Empathy Museum Collection

Storyteller: Gary Mansfield | Audio Producer: Rob Eagle | Empathy Museum Collection

Empathy Museum - A Mile in My Shoes

Storyteller: Dianne Lawrence | Audio Producer: Meri Fatin | Empathy Museum Collection

Storyteller: Dalwinder Singh | Audio Producer: Meri Fatin | Empathy Museum Collection

Dr Kate Rice uncovers stories from the Australian Performing Arts Collection in a series of creative docu-drama podcasts, which are produced with the generous support of the Frank Van Straten Fellows 

FOR THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE is a 19th century Australian novel about a man transported from England to Van Diemen’s Land for a crime he didn’t commit. Adapted for the stage many times over, it became an epic melodrama that drew huge audiences for over thirty years. Behind the stage show is another story of injustice: of a writer who lost control of his most famous work, theatre makers who exploited it, and two women who fought to get it back.

Written, researched and narrated by Kate Rice. Additional voice acting by Angourie Rice, Jason Geary, Jimmy Eaton, Laurence Boxhall and Maddy Tyers. Produced and edited by Jimmy Eaton. ‘Curious Case’ written and performed by Cody Martin. ‘Good Old Days’ written and performed by Dresden the Flamingo. ‘I’m Sorry I Made You Cry’ written by NJ Clesi and performed by Angourie Rice. ‘Kings and Queens’ written and performed by Wicked Cinema. Handel’s ‘La Rejouissance’ and Chopin’s ‘This Too Shall Pass’ in B minor performed by Joshua Speight.    

Discover more and for references > https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/exhibitions-collections/research-access/performing-the-past

Performing the Past | Episode 2: FOR THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE

Arts Centre Melbourne is the flagship of the performing arts in Victoria and the focal point of Melbourne's cultural precinct. Visit Arts Centre Melbourne site at artscentremelbourne.com.au to find out what's on, book tickets, view our collections and exhibitions and marvel at the unique diversity of arts and entertainment choices all year round.

Popular tracks by Arts Centre Melbourne