The Fish That Wanted to Fly
- About the Work
- Touring & Tech
- Marketing & Engagement
Did you ever dream of doing something impossible?
Synopsis
The Fish That Wanted to Fly is about having the courage to pursue something even if it seems like you will never reach it. In our story we meet a little Fish whose lagoon is drying up. All the other fish have left for the ocean, but she can’t find a way through. She wants to learn to fly so she can see them all again. Her friend, a hermit crab named Karramoko, sits by a stormwater drain and tells her it will never happen. She meets a Kingfisher who tries to help and encourages her to keep trying. It’s not until she meets a Cormorant, who offers to take her up into the sky that she flies for the first time. But will she make it back okay? This enchanting tale is set in a mangrove swamp filled with colourful puppets, beautiful songs and is about friendship, resilience and sustainability.
The original music was composed by Miriam Lieberman, whose most recent album was described by Rolling Stone as “an enthralling, intoxicating piece of blissful wonder.” and was voted as one of the top albums of 2021 by the Guardian.
Short Reviews
Rhonda, audience member, Forge Theatre and Arts Hub, Bairnsdale, VIC
Sebastian, aged 6, Melbourne Festival of Puppetry, VIC
Shahnaz Martin, audience member, Twyford Hall, Merimbula NSW
Video
Technical Information
Lighting
No specific lighting changes are required to run the show. It can be performed in daylight or normal room lighting. Little Wing Puppets can provide the required lighting equipment if requested, which can be operated by the performer during the show.
- 2 x lighting trees with 4 x PAR 16’s (birdies) and 1 x LED Parcan each.
Venues with a Lighting Rig: If a lighting rig available, additional lighting can be provided by the venue and operated by a technician. A Lighting cue sheet can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7cuykxta1h8822e/AACj0VaHPoDYo7rrtIUGG3gta?dl=0
Audio
Little Wing Puppets can provide all of the required sound equipment which is listed below. The sound is recorded music played from an Apple Mac computer from QLab, Sound cues are triggered by the performer during the show with foot pedals. A sound operator is not required. Little Wing Puppets can provide:
- 1 x Yamaha Stage PAS 400 PA with sound desk
- 1 x radio mic, headset and receiver
- 1 x lap top computer with a mini-jack line out
- 1 x mini-jack to rca cable
- 1x XLR cable to connect radio mic receiver to sound desk
Venues with a PA: If it is preferred to run the sound through the venue’s sound system. The following is required:
- 1x PA with left and right speakers
- 1 x sound desk with: 1 x quarter inch jack or XLR input for radio mic
- A way of connecting the laptop at centre stage with mini-jack output to the venue PA left and right speakers. The producer can provide a DI and mini-jack to quarter-inch jack cables if requested. The venue would need to provide 2 x XLR cables to reach from sound desk to centre stage.
Staging
Little Wing Puppets supplies all set components including:
- 1 x puppetry booth, made of an aluminium frame, which is like large cupboard with doors that open at the front. The booth is 2.4 metres high x 2 metres wide x 1.2 metres deep. Minimum staging requirement is 3 metres high by 3metres wide by 2.5 metres deep.
Crew Notes
The performer can operate their own sound and lights with foot pedals during the performance. When using venue sound and lights, a technician is required for set up, focusing, sound-check, and operation during the performance.
Transport Notes
The production can fly as excess baggage on a flight with 5 cases, including lights and sound. The production can travel in the back of an 8-seater Kia Carnival or large station wagon.
Audience & Marketing Notes
The Fish That Wanted to Fly is a gentle, colourful, fun show filled with beautiful songs and it is highly engaging for young children. Consider inviting multiple preschools to a show for an excursion. The show also acts as a springboard for inquiry into several areas of the Primary School curriculum. It supports the Wellbeing Framework through the theme of resilience and friendship. It connects to Science and Sustainability through its exploration of the life and habits of Australian animals and their environments. Are there mangrove, wetland, or coastal habitats in your area? Encourage your local school to use the show as a creative way to learn about their local environment. The show works well for family audiences, in that it appeals to a wide range of ages including adults, making it ideal for school holiday programs. It can be run in conjunction with workshops to make it a full day of activities. Its environmental themes, and the fact that it can be performed outdoors, makes it a great addition to community festivals and outdoor events.
Selling Points
- School Holiday Programs - Appealing to a wide age group, including adults.
- Environmental Education - Australian animals and their habitats, and the impacts of climate change
- Outdoor Festivals and Events - a colourful and eye-catching booth, with an easy set up
- Preschools, Playgroups - a gentle show for young children
- Wellbeing and Mental Health programs - explores notions of resilience and friendship
- Music - it contains live, beautiful, original songs
- Primary School Excursions - a creative introduction to the Science and Sustainability Curriculum as well as the Wellbeing Framework
- Interactive. Demonstration of puppetry techniques.
- Workshops in puppetry and drama skill development
Community Engagement
Details
Genre
Audience
Children and Families
Venue Format
Proscenium Arch, Black Box, Flat Floor, Hall, Outdoor
Duration
40 mins Minutes
Available Until (from - to)
01/09/2025
Budget & Fees
What are these? Find out more.In Development - work which will be produced and premiered in time for touring during 2022/2023. Please contact the Producer directly for Budgets and Fees.
Remount: $1000
Weekly Sell Off: $5500
Per Performance: $950
