by Little Wing Puppets

Theatre | Puppetry

What happens when the lights go out and your imagination takes over?

Turn Off the Dark is an inventive puppet theatre experience from Little Wing Puppets, following a young boy alone in a blackout. As the noises of the night intrude, his anxious inner voice transforms every creak, shadow and bump into something frightening. Monsters emerge where there’s only a possum, and his worries quickly spiral out of control.

Using puppetry, animation, physical comedy and clever stagecraft, a solo performer brings this world to life, triggering lighting, sound and video live on stage. At the heart of the story is a playful yet honest exploration of worry, anxiety and the ways children can find calm when overwhelming feelings take hold.

Developed over four years in collaboration with students from Fairvale Primary School in South Western Sydney, Turn Off the Dark embeds authentic children’s voices at every stage of its creation. The project celebrates young people as creative partners and reflects the experiences, ideas and imaginations of a diverse community of children.

While tackling themes of mental health and emotional wellbeing, the show remains full of humour, warmth and wonder. It offers young audiences a safe and engaging way to explore difficult emotions, opening conversations about worries, fears and resilience. Accompanied by educational resources, Turn Off the Dark aims to empower children with practical tools for navigating life’s darker moments—and letting the light back in.

Photographs by Jeremy Lavender

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