Written and Directed by Jolyon James
Presented by Arena Theatre Company
“Miss Cummings, if we’re all different, doesn’t that kind of make us all the same?”
Juniper May
When eleven year old Juniper May receives a petition signed by her entire class stating that she is ‘the most hated person in the school’ her life is thrown into complete meltdown. After exhausting all other avenues her parents resort to the only thing they have left, a giant singing robot.
Based on a true story, Robot Song illustrates the profound, transformative nature of creativity that when combined with unconditional love, becomes an unstoppable force. For Juniper, creativity opens doors into places she never knew existed allowing her, for the first time, to be defined on her own terms.
Robot Song is a deeply personal story. It shares an honest, intensely funny and often unconventional window into writer, director Jolyon James’ experience parenting a child on the Autism Spectrum. The show poses and attempts to answer the question, how do we support, foster and celebrate difference in our children in the face of an increasingly rigid and homogenised world?
Robot Song is a genuine family show. It is joyful and full of hope. It is for any child who has ever felt isolated or pushed to the margins and any parent desperate for tools to help. The show employs cutting edge digital technology, startling animatronics and a beautiful original musical score.
“Gorgeously told and superbly crafted, a must-see for young people growing up in a world where bullying is widespread but who need to understand that difference should be seen as an asset.”
– Fiona Parker, ABC
