Playground In The Sky | Virag Dombay Productions & Room to Play Kids
‘The Playground In The Sky’ by Virag Dombay Productions and Room to Play Kids is a brand new Meanjin youth theatre work as a part of Backbone Festival.
Stepping into Ron Hurley Theatre this weekend, I was instantly struck by a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Families and friends were mingling, buzzing with excitement before the show. I could sense the thrill in the air, especially with the kids chatting away, all pumped up for something fun and unique.
Image credit including cover image: Creative Futures Photography.
Inspired by the 2022 floods in SEQ, ‘The Playground in the Sky’ follows ten-year-old George, Melanie, and their neighbourhood friends as stumble upon a secret floating playground high above the city. Together, they navigate the aftermath of the disaster, as they lean on their creativity, friendship, and a sense of adventure to move forward.
Oliva Hunt and Dylan Andrews. Image credit: Creative Futures Photography.
While the production was predominantly aimed at children, it also engaged adult audiences. It explored real-life struggles, and themes, such as hardship, stress, and the emotional toll of moving away from friends. Lines such as “Why is everyone leaving”, “all I want is to scream” deeply resonated with me, highlighting the crucial role of community support and friendship during challenging moments in life. The performers, who ranged from prep school to year 12, were each given an opportunity to exhibit their acting talents. The children’s playfulness and courage were clearly apparent in the story. The show integrated a documentary tone with dramatic storytelling, capturing the essence of childhood resilience and escapism in a prototypically Brisbane manner.
One notable component of the show was the use of colourful paper planes. Mirroring the segment where characters read heartfelt message from their friends, audience members were given the chance to make their own paper planes in a designated space outside the theatre, write notes for their loved ones, and either attach them to a wall or hand them directly to the individuals. This interactive activity involving the audience played a significant role in delivering the message.
The 3D animated background on the projector throughout stood out to me. Its beautiful artistry reminded me of ‘Castle in the Sky’, and the effective interplay with the lighting on stage created a seamless transition to different scene locations. In addition, the soundtrack complemented well with the narrative, ultilising piano melodies alongside sound effects such as sirens and thunder. However, I felt that the volume of the thunder could have been toned down slightly, as it at times overshadowed the actors’ dialogue.
Climbing the magical waterfall to the animated Playground in the Sky . Image credit: Creative Futures Photography.
The Playground In The Sky is a captivating and entertaining theatre trip for kids, families and adults. I can’t wait to see what this team does next.
