'Big Horse' Sculpture Takes Shape on Arts Centre Melbourne's Forecourt

Move over Joey, another Big Horse is about to gallop into Arts Centre Melbourne's inaugural Summer Season. Big Horse will be on Arts Centre Melbourne's Forecourt from Wednesday 16 - Sunday 20 January and continues the charge of summer entertainment including War Horse, family circus Oh Suivant!, gravity defying one-man-show Leo and the international dance sensation Blaze the Show.

Bamboo poles, sticks and other recycled materials will create a towering four meter-tall horse sculpture. Constructed by sculptor Amanda King, the Big Horse frame will be gradually covered in flowers crafted out of recycled materials by kids and their families. Amanda King has built 'Big Things' for The Commonwealth Games, Adelaide Festival, Sydney Festival and Riverfestival in Brisbane, including a Big Tasmanian Devil, a Big Dingo and a Giant Dugong.

To the delight of those who have seen War Horse, a Big Goose, not unlike the comedic puppet who almost steals the show from Joey, the titular War Horse, will accompany Amanda King's Big Horse. Smaller in scale, though still taller than any adult, the easy-to-reach Big Goose has been designed to allow even the smallest child to participate in the project.

Big Horse takes shape alongside an exciting season of summer entertainment. The Fairfax Studio will feature the charmingly surreal one-man physical theatre show Leo from Berlin-based Circle of Eleven, and Europe's favourite street theatre performers, D'Irque and Fien, performing their acclaimed kids and family show Oh Suivant!

The Playhouse is home to Eddie Perfect and Tripod, who have just announced the fourth and final show of their hilarious barbershop parody, Perfect Tripod: Australian Songs, and Ethiopian jazz legend Mahmoud Ahmed with local ethio-jazz outfit The J-Azmaris.

Hamer Hall will be a drawcard for locals and visitors alike with performances from international innovators
David Byrne and St. Vincent, the electrifying hip hop dance production Blaze the Show and ARIA award-winning musician Sarah Blasko in her first orchestral tour.

Also taking inspiration from War Horse is LetterBox, a series of writing workshops where kids can research, edit and write letters to home, which will be displayed around the building, and a host of other workshops by The National Theatre of Great Britain based around the production, including scriptwriting and puppetry workshops.

For further details on what's on in during summer visit artscentremelbourne.com.au or pick up an On Guide from our venues.

More Articles by This Author...