The Creativerse is a new annual festival where Bendigo families can explore the exciting intersection of arts and technology through play.
Top Australian artists and creative companies will transform spaces into interactive wonderlands of surprise and discovery.
Through hands-on installations, captivating performances, and fun workshops, children aged 5-12 and their families can unleash their creativity together.
Join us to build new connections, spark curiosity, and create memorable experiences that bring our community closer together.
The Creativerse transforms Bendigo into a playground of possibilities.
Interactive installations. Live performances. Hands-on workshops. Ticketed & free events that spark imagination and bring families together through creative discovery. Build something amazing. Watch creativity come alive. Make memories that last.
Perfect for families with kids 3-12.
Produced and presented by Arena Theatre Company.
The Creativerse transforms Bendigo into a playground of possibilities.
Interactive installations. Live performances. Hands-on workshops. Ticketed & free events that spark imagination and bring families together through creative discovery. Build something amazing. Watch creativity come alive. Make memories that last.
Perfect for families with kids 3-12.
Produced and presented by Arena Theatre Company.
The Wholesome Hour presents:
POLITE MAMMALS
A totally wild variety show the whole family can enjoy.
Meet 20+ animal characters in one hilarious hour. Dancing praying mantises, farting skunks, Frankenstein cockroaches, and a singing Bin Chicken bring the house down with puppetry, music, and pure silliness. Inspired by classic 90s Aussie kids’ TV, this is all-ages comedy at its wildest. Created at ArtPlay with real live kids!
Performed by Lily Fish, Angela Fouhy, Sunanda Sachatrakul, Kimberley Twiner. Created by Lily Fish, Jack Lewis, Sunanda Sachatrakul, Ell Sachs, Kimberley Twiner
The Wholesome Hour presents:
POLITE MAMMALS
A totally wild variety show the whole family can enjoy.
Meet 20+ animal characters in one hilarious hour. Dancing praying mantises, farting skunks, Frankenstein cockroaches, and a singing Bin Chicken bring the house down with puppetry, music, and pure silliness. Inspired by classic 90s Aussie kids’ TV, this is all-ages comedy at its wildest. Created at ArtPlay with real live kids!
Performed by Lily Fish, Angela Fouhy, Sunanda Sachatrakul, Kimberley Twiner. Created by Lily Fish, Jack Lewis, Sunanda Sachatrakul, Ell Sachs, Kimberley Twiner
FINNEGAN THE FART DETECTIVE
The funniest whodunit ever heard, seen and smelled! Join detective Finnegan and his loyal companion Hamlet as they solve life’s most fiendish mystery. This live radio play combines old-school sound effects, live music, and multi-sensory surprises that’ll tickle your funny bone and your nose. Perfect for primary school kids who love mysteries and adults who love a good laugh.
Written by Lachlan Woods, directed by Christian Leavesley.
FINNEGAN THE FART DETECTIVE
The funniest whodunit ever heard, seen and smelled! Join detective Finnegan and his loyal companion Hamlet as they solve life’s most fiendish mystery. This live radio play combines old-school sound effects, live music, and multi-sensory surprises that’ll tickle your funny bone and your nose. Perfect for primary school kids who love mysteries and adults who love a good laugh.
Co-directed by Christian Leavesley & Lachlan Woods, Written by Lachlan Woods.
KIKI AND ZUKI
When Kiki from the Moon meets Zuki from Earth, two worlds collide in the most beautiful way. Though they speak differently, their friendship blooms through understanding and connection. This enchanting shadow puppet show explores what it means to belong in two worlds, inspired by the artists’ own journey as migrants in Australia. A heartwarming tale of friendship across cultures.
Co-created, performed and designed by Yoube Lee and Taka Takiguchi
KIKI AND ZUKI
When Kiki from the Moon meets Zuki from Earth, two worlds collide in the most beautiful way. Though they speak differently, their friendship blooms through understanding and connection. This enchanting shadow puppet show explores what it means to belong in two worlds, inspired by the artists’ own journey as migrants in Australia. A heartwarming tale of friendship across cultures.
Co-created, performed and designed by Yoube Lee and Taka Takiguchi
SOMEONE IN THE DARK
An immersive adventure to face fears and discover bravery in the wild.
Meet Mallee, a young malleefowl who’s too scared to leave her underground home. When a lost echidna accidentally hatches her, they must face the outside world together—with help from you. This interactive theatre experience takes audiences underground, where courage grows and fears fade away.
Created by acclaimed Wotjobaluk and Ngarrindjeri storyteller Tracey Rigney. Directed by Nancy Black. Performed by Jillian Pearce and Lou Kelly.
SOMEONE IN THE DARK
An immersive adventure to face fears and discover bravery in the wild.
Meet Mallee, a young malleefowl who’s too scared to leave her underground home. When a lost echidna accidentally hatches her, they must face the outside world together—with help from you. This interactive theatre experience takes audiences underground, where courage grows and fears fade away.
Created by acclaimed Wotjobaluk and Ngarrindjeri storyteller Tracey Rigney. Directed by Nancy Black. Performed by Jillian Pearce and Lou Kelly.
PROPS THEATRE:
Performance & writing workshops
Props Theatre worked with young people aged 7-14 to create a play -right there, right then – an intense 1.5hr workshop with a performance at the end. In addition, Props delivered a writing workshop for young storytellers aged 5-12, creating characters, writing scenes and bringing stories to life.
Created and presented by Props Theatre
PROPS THEATRE:
Performance & writing workshops
Props Theatre worked with young people aged 7-14 to create a play -right there, right then – an intense 1.5hr workshop with a performance at the end. In addition, Props delivered a writing workshop for young storytellers aged 5-12, creating characters, writing scenes and bringing stories to life.
Created and presented by Props Theatre
PROPS THEATRE:
Writing Workshop “The Start of the Story”
Want to turn your ideas into a real play? Join Props Theatre and learn how to create characters, write exciting scenes, and bring your story to life on stage. We’ll help you discover the difference between writing for books and writing for theatre—where every word becomes action!
Perfect for young storytellers aged 5-12. Created and presented by Props Theatre
PROPS THEATRE:
Writing Workshop “The Start of the Story”
Want to turn your ideas into a real play? Join Props Theatre and learn how to create characters, write exciting scenes, and bring your story to life on stage. We’ll help you discover the difference between writing for books and writing for theatre—where every word becomes action!
Perfect for young storytellers aged 5-12. Created and presented by Props Theatre
THE FOYER EXPERIENCE
PROGRAM COMING SOON
THE CREATIVERSE IMMERSIVE ZONE
FREE workshops, storytelling, pop-up performances, digital projections, 3D AR – all driven by young participants.
INSECT-A-SONIC
Did you know there are more insects on Earth than people? We often hear them before we see them—buzzing, humming, chirping, and whistling like tiny machines. In this hands-on installation, kids and families can bring animated insects to life with sound! Use simple controls to wake up noisy bugs, layer their calls, and create your own insect song—or even form a buzzing bug band. Inspired by the weird and wonderful world of insects, natural soundscapes, and movie sound effects, Insect-a-Sonics turns creepy-crawlies into a symphony of fun.
THE WATERHOLE
You never know what you’ll find at the waterhole by the moonlight...Bring your wildest ideas to life! Choose from one of eight native animal templates—like the Platypus, Growling Grass Frog, or the Eltham Copper Butterfly—and let your creativity loose with felt tip pens. When you’re done, your masterpiece gets scanned and magically appears, super-sized and animated, in a shimmering waterhole scene. It’s quick, interactive, and fun for all ages—everyone gets to see their animal jump into the action in just three minutes!
LIFE CYCLE
Life Cycle is a beautiful interactive story told in 4 chapters, inspired by the life cycle of a caterpillar, with magical twist. This story about transformation and imagination is designed to be shared by children with their adults. Participants go on a journey through the chapters scattered around the space - each one combining an animated audio story and a craft activity, that can be added to beautiful miniature environments. There is no restriction on time. Children can repeat their favourite chapter multiple times, or spend extended time perfecting a single creation. Life Cycle is a treat for families who love sharing beautiful stories and making things with their hands.
DIY PAPER CIRCUITS ART
DIY Paper Circuits Activity Get ready to make your drawings light up! In this hands-on activity, kids will explore the magic of combining art and simple electronics to create their own glowing paper designs. Using special copper tape, LEDs, and coin batteries, you’ll learn how to build a working circuit right on the page — then turn it into a one-of-a-kind artwork to take home. Part science, part creativity, and all fun, this activity is perfect for curious minds who love to tinker, make, and imagine.
THE GARDENERS
The Gardeners emerge from their plot to spread joy, bearing gifts of fruits and vegetables. A gentle interactive roving performance for the whole family.
THE BLOWIES
Step into the buzzing world of giant Central Victorian flies—the dazzling Green Bottle Fly and Senostoma—as they chat, play, and need your help tucking their babies into a cosy compost bed, all while showcasing their superpowers in pollination, pest control, and recycling—just don’t forget clean undies!
PUNK EMUS
Punk Emus are the cheekiest birds you’ll meet - these giant emu puppets and their riders are totally 'punked up', and make mischief wherever they go! With attitude and sass they will peck their way around The Creativerse!
The Creativerse is ever-expanding: check back here for updates
