The Giant’s Garden

Education

Synopsis

Every day Ida plays quietly under a huge tree on a hill with her friend Quill the snail. Meanwhile, rowdier children climb and play joyfully in the branches above. One day, a great giant arrives in their world and tells them all to go away. “This tree is mine!” he declares. Terrified, the children flee, and Ida is forced to leave Quill behind.

The giant builds a dark tower and a high wall around the tree, with a sign: KEEP OUT. The days pass sorrowfully for the children, especially Ida, sick with worry about Quill. !e weather grows colder and snow falls. One day in horror the children hear the giant preparing to cut the tree down to burn it. High on the hill Quill sings a mysterious song that only Ida hears, giving her courage to go up and stop the giant. She finds a place in the wall to get through and sees the giant frozen with ice under the tree. Filled with pity she takes his hand, and tells the giant he mustn’t harm the tree, because it belongs to everyone, and the children love it. Moved, the giant cries out, his body melts, he throws down his saw and destroys the wall.

Spring returns, the tree blooms, the children run into the branches to play, and Ida is reunited with Quill. They all live in happiness together until the end of the giant’s long life, when he lies down and gently dies, covered by the leaves of the tree.

Pricing

Standard
One performance: $15 per student
Two performances: $13 per student
Three performances: $12 per student

Equity (Cat 1 – 4)
One performance: $12 per student
Two performances: $10 per student
Three performances: $9 per student

Workshops

Slingsby Theatre Techniques: Shadow & Miniaturisation
Over the past 15 years, Slingsby has developed a distinctive look and feel to its theatre-making. From The Tragical Life of Cheeseboy (2007) to The Boy Who Talked to Dogs (2021), each show has incorporated elements of shadow play, miniaturisation and sustained moments of image and sound. Through this hands-on workshop students will discover how these techniques can be used in storytelling to create their own short pieces of theatre.

Please note, this workshop includes access to Slingsby’s torches and materials to create beautiful shadow play.

What makes a small theatre company work?
A workshop for teachers and Year 10, 11 and 12 students. The workshop will provide a living example of the SACE process of formulating a working company with a vision.

The workshop delves into how Slingsby:
-Formulate a vision for the company Identifies their target audience
-Determines their dramatic vision and works on their collaboration skills
-Plans marketing, publicity, and promotion Undertakes financial considerations
-Develops stylistic features for the company
-Develops strategies for reaching new audiences.

Pricing

Standard
$500/workshop (max 30 participants)

Equity (Cat 1 – 4)
$300/workshop (max 30 participants)

For more information about workshops, please email: [email protected]