THE COLONIAL SHOW

The Colonial Show written by Vincent Wren, a former employee of Old Sydney Town saw this performance as a way where students could still have access to the nation‘s fledgling beginnings as a penal colony. The show is based on the Learning Outcomes of the Unit – “British Colonisation in Australia”, Stage 2 in the Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) Syllabus. This performance can ALSO be incorporated in the (COGS) Connected Outcomes Group Support Curriculum and also within the new National Curriculum. While the show is aimed at Years 3 and 4 it is suitable for the entire primary school. The show allows students to participate as the colonial time span comes alive with authentic props and professional actors. The Colonial Show brings to life right in front of the children, with utter realism the story of Australia's colonisation.

So take your students on a trip back to the days of the First Fleet as the "Colonial Show" performers bring to life Australia's Early Colonial Lifetime.  The show provides a mixture of theatre and education, and elicits plenty of participation from an enthused audience.  The show presents to your students everything from thunderous addresses and convict floggings to musical sing-alongs and light-hearted humour.  With an electric mix of entertainment the result is an enjoyable form of education.

Children will learn in so many different ways, not just from the chalkboard, so let your students become immersed in the show in a variety of ways.  It's more than just a history lesson ... it's an interactive educational informative and entertaining show that is without a doubt a LIVELY SHOW for all kids and teacher.

The Colonial Show was born out of the closure of Old Sydney Town, which was situated on the Central Coast, on the 27th January 2003. With the closure of Old Sydney Tower the educational resource which gave students an opportunity to interact with characters and experience life in the Sydney Town in the early Colony of New South Wales was no longer accessible to students and schools.  With the closure of Old Sydney Town Vincent Wren, a former employee of Old Sydney Town, saw this as a way where students could still have access to the nation‘s fledgling beginnings as a penal colony.  From this Vincent Wren began re-writing the script with the entire show being based on the unit of work titled "British Colonisation in Australia in the Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) Syllabus".  The show was built around the Learning Outcomes of the unit and was work shopped through various stages with the assistance of six primary school teachers with many years experience in primary schools and having taught the unit many times. 

After 15 months in development the Colonial Show began it's roadshow in 2004 and since then the "Colonial Show" has travelled as far west as Broken Hill, as far north as Ingham Queensland and as far south as Hobart Tasmania.  Since the beginning of our first roadshow nearly 60,000 students have seen the performance, nearly 2,500 schools have witnessed the interactive show and over 800 teachers have been delighted.  Due to the nature of the show and its educational outcomes it is suitable for Government, Catholic, Anglican, Private and Independant Schools.

The show has been performed in schools in City Metro areas as well as country schools.  Schools such as ...

• Eumungerie Public School
• Trinity School - MURRUMBURRAH
• Lane Cove Public School
• St Patricks College
• Baradine Central School
• St Joseph's Primary School MERRIWA
• Kinross Wolaroi School, ORANGE
• Rosary Primary Catholic School, ACT
• Canberra Grammar School, ACT
• The Hills Grammar School
• Roseville Public School
• Bass Hill Public School
• Clemton Park Public School
• St Charbel's College
• Trinity Grammar Preparatory School, STRATHFIELD
• Paddington Public School
• Wheeler Heights Public School
• St Agnes Primary School
• Sutherland Shire Christian School
• Mamre Anglican School
• Heritage College

are just a small list of the thousands of schools that book us each year, with some schools booking the show on a regular basis every year or on a  two year cycle. 

As one principal said, "This is definitely a show you shouldn't miss out!"