A special interactive Zoom show for children aged 1-5 years will be broadcast live at 11am on Saturday August 15, as part of Surf Coast Shire Council’s engaging PORTAL program of creative workshops and initiatives held during COVID-19.
The event will be led by Deans Marsh performing artist and puppeteer Nicholas Dacomb and will get the kids up and dancing with Teddy Bear nursery rhyms, as well as joining in for Teddy Bear hide and seek with Australia’s number one teddy bear escapologist ‘Tedini’.
“Humour and entertainment are very important right now, especially for kids who might not understand why there’s so much fear around,” said Nicholas. “It’s an opportunity for all the rules to be off and for kids to laugh and play, which is what they do best.”
Nicholas’ brand new show “Teddy Bear’s Picnic” will run for 30-40 minutes and can be booked through .
Nicholas grew up on a sheep farm in Western Victoria, but set off on an adventure travelling around Australia in a van to escape joining the family business. He joined up with a street theatre troupe in Cairns and started busking, before his first ‘real’ show in remote communities in Arnhem Land. He’s since entertained everyone from orphans in South Africa to festivalgoers in Glastonbury, UK.
“I worked on the farm from a young age and didn’t really enjoy it that much – sheep weren’t as funny an audience as the young kids are,” said Nicholas. “The farm taught me that I needed to do something I enjoyed as a career – and I can honestly say that I really love what I do as a performer.”
He says he would like to say it was easy to pivot online following the loss of his work and cancellations of festivals due to pandemic restrictions, but the truth is that it’s been hard for him: “Doing something you love and identifying with it so much takes time to get used to it when it’s no longer possible. So, to have the chance to entertain remotely is very special for me.”
The performance has been made possible thanks to the Deans Marsh Community Cottage, helping to spread knowledge about a fabulous local performer. The show will also act as a community fundraiser for the 21st Century Anglesea Memorial Hall sound and lighting upgrade, showing community support between the shire’s creative communities.
Everyone is welcome, don’t forget to bring your teddy.
