The One Who Planted Trees

During the show our narrator, a dog puppet, guides us on the journey of The One Who Planted Trees, a woman who spends a lifetime turning a dusty plot into a luscious forrest, with a full ecosystem complete with every creature from mushrooms to frogs and bees. The journey is not an easy one with speed bumps and setbacks, but her perseverance is inspirational. With a heartwarming supporting cast of native Australian animals and a few cheeky sheep this story is joyous and humbling. Tree by tree, song by song, and puppet by puppet, this show is a perfect springboard for a deeper discussion about our world and the environment we all value. It will leave you humming the songs, grabbing a spade, and watering plants into the ground in next to no-time. As a Chinese proverb says, the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second-best time is today.

Form and Style

The One Who Planted Trees is the uplifting story of one woman’s quest to change her life and the world around her, told through puppetry, digital animation, and music from toe tapping numbers to Broadway anthems to hip hop. The musical production stars an iconic puppet cast of Australian animals, including Bandicoot, Koala and a fun-loving Frill Necked Lizard, who, along with a swarm of singing bees, termites, dogs and frogs, and the odd bacteria or two, tell us the story from their point of view. The puppets are muppet-style, and digital animation brings to life images of arid desert, the journey of the woman: planting, growing, and the magical world of the transformed plot in all of its green and luscious wonder. The central set piece is cleverly manipulated and acts as a frame for the characters and story. It lifts to reveal the beautiful transformation at the end of the show – a real gasp out loud moment of beauty and excitement.

Community Engagement

With all touring productions we deliver pre and post-show engagement activities. We supply a package of content which further develops key messages and learnings and adapt these to each venue.

The company produces the following items:

• A Q&A session after every show
• Education/Teacher notes
• Parents Notes
• Foyer Activity

We also offer workshops that can be paid with the show or as a seperate engagement within the community.

Reviews

“The message is clear, told with great tunes, a remarkable set and heaps of humour. My children discuss afterwards why people still chop down trees, how funny the sheep were, and the fact that “without trees nothing would exist”. The One Who Plants Trees is fabulous theatre for the entire family, we could watch it again…and have just as much fun.” – Rosalind Appleby, Seesaw Magazine

“The One Who Planted Trees was one of the most amazing shows I have ever seen.”  Kimberly Shaw, Stage Whispers

Available Marketing Collaterals

As a producing company that self-presents works in our own 220-seat theatre in Fremantle we understand the needs of presenters and produce quality production and promotional images, as well as show footage / promotional video, artwork (poster, flyer, press ads), and digital marketing content (including a social media strategy).

We provide presenters with:

• High quality marketing images and promotional video.
• Active social media campaign – engaging with venues and audiences in the lead up to visits on the tour
• Tour hash tag
• Comprehensive marketing kit.

Credits

Award winning playwright and performer Amberly Cull “The Point of Light”, came together with co-writer Nick Pages-Oliver a writer, producer and performer of works including; “Fish in the Sea” a finalist for the Martin Sims Award and co-creator Bec Bradley an artist with over 15 years experience in the field to write this ambitious puppet musical, an adaptation of The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono.

Expertly directed by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s Artistic Director Philip Mitchell and a team of phenomenal Perth artists: Designers Leon Hendroff and Clare Testoni with lighting design from Kristie Smith and composition by Melanie Robinson (an award winning musician, singer, composer and arranger; working with musicians such as Megan Washington and Tim Rogers and companies including Black Swan State Theatre Company). Musical score recorded by Melanie Robinson (back-up vocals and cello), Harry Mitchell (piano), Iain Grandage (piano), Linda Oh (bass), and Ben Vanderwal (drums). This all-star puppet cast voiced by Cull, Pages-Oliver and Bradley will leave you in aware of their talent.