by Little Wing Puppets

Drama | Visual Arts | Science

A Little Bit of Blue is an interactive environmental detective story, told with puppetry. As well as unravelling a mystery, it involves learning about the unique habits of an extraordinary Australian animal, the Satin Bowerbird, and their fascination for the colour blue. It is a fun frolicking mix of Detective Noir, slapstick, with some interesting facts thrown in. 

Mavis’s world is turned upside-down by small disappearances. Something has gone missing and is nowhere to be found. Mrs Hooley has been looking everywhere. But it’s not just today. Every day a new thing seems to disappear. Little things. A $10 note. Clothes pegs. A ball of wool. It’s troubling at first, but the thief then takes it one step too far. 

Mavis calls in a Detective to investigate. The Detective, Harry McGee, an adorable fool, makes a mess of the investigation, and the children love always being one step ahead of him. They set a trap for the burglar. A stakeout is required. In the dead of night, and the Detective indeed finds something peculiar… The children’s role is to help him solve the case. 

Jenny Ellis, a puppeteer of more than twenty years, weaves the whole mystery together, sometimes playing three characters at once. The young audience will gasp with surprise, sigh with sadness, shout in outrage, cheer with triumph, and dance with joy as they follow the sneaky bowerbird on his journey to find love. 

Audiences love this show. It is exquisite in its design, touching in its message, and hilarious in its delivery. Children and their families walk away feeling inspired and excited. 

The show connects to the Science curriculum in that it enquires into the life and habits of Australian animals. Bowerbirds live in Victoria. Do they live in your area? Use the show as a creative way to learn about their local environment. It provides a framework for critical thinking through the lens of a Detective investigation and opens the door to a deeper discussion about ethics and justice. It is mapped to curriculum and is supported by educational resources. The show offers both high quality storytelling and entertainment, while showcasing contemporary puppetry skills. These skills can be shared in the form of workshops called The Puppetry of Paper. This production aims to inspire a new generation of theatre-makers. 

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