The Whale
EVENT NOW OVER
Imagine standing beneath a magnificent giant whale floating through the air, its huge body moving gracefully above you as you help bring it to life with your own hands. That’s the wonder waiting for you at Tom Simpson Park with this larger-than-life puppet experience!
Created by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre (Australia’s puppetry superstars!), The Whale isn’t something you just watch from your seat – it’s something you get to be part of! This giant whale marionette glides through the air on special strings, and guess what? You get to help control those strings alongside the professional puppeteers! The whale’s movements are created by everyone working together, which means YOU help make the magic happen. Plus, there are amazing sea creatures that pop up from hidden places to surprise and delight everyone watching.
With beautiful music specially written for this show, plus poems, cool whale facts and stories told in kids’ voices, this adventure transports families into an underwater world full of wonder. You’ll discover why whales have fascinated people all around the world for thousands of years and why they appear in so many legends and stories. You’ll get up close to experience how graceful these ocean giants are through sound, movement and joining in. And you’ll learn about the important job whales do in keeping our oceans healthy, why they matter to Perth and WA, and how we can help protect them so they’re still around when you have kids and grandkids of your own!
The Whale teaches about caring for our oceans and protecting marine life in a gentle, inspiring way – no lectures, just wonder and curiosity that makes you want to learn more. Whether you’re 6 or 60, whether you drop by for ten minutes or come back to visit multiple times across the four days, there are always new things to discover and different ways to connect with these magnificent sea creatures.
After the huge success of String Symphony back in 2017, The Whale shows how Spare Parts Puppet Theatre keeps creating puppet experiences that bring communities together through imagination, participation and shared joy.
Come swim with giants. Come help create the magic.
Sessions & Times
There are no upcoming events for this program.
Extra things to know
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is WA’s longest-running theatre company and a globally recognised leader in puppetry. Based in Fremantle, they’re known for innovative, large-scale puppetry that combines technical brilliance with emotional storytelling. Spare Parts produces mainstage shows, tours nationally and internationally, and creates participatory installations that invite audiences to become co-creators.
Tom Simpson Park is a beautiful beachside park on Oceanside Promenade in Mullaloo, right next to the stunning Mullaloo Beach. There’s free parking in two large car parks within the park – best to arrive early on sunny days as this popular beach park gets busy.
If you’re catching public transport, take the Yanchep Line train to Joondalup or Whitfords Station, then catch bus route 460 which stop at Oceanside Promenade (about 20 minutes from either station).Â
This happens outdoors in a beautiful beachside parkland with grassy areas, paved pathways, and ocean breezes! The park sits right alongside Mullaloo Beach – one of Perth’s most loved northern beaches with white sand and gentle waves. Everyone can join in as much or as little as they feel comfortable with. Want to help puppet the whale? Great! Want to sit on the grass and watch? Perfect! Want to try for a bit then have a rest? No worries! The park has picnic shelters, BBQ facilities, and spots to sit and relax while you watch for a while. Wear comfy clothes and shoes good for grass and paths.
The participatory nature means everyone can engage at their own comfort level. Younger children and those with mobility considerations can participate with adult assistance. Puppeteers will adapt participation methods to suit individual abilities and comfort levels.Â
Tom Simpson Park is surrounded by yummy food options, including fish and chips, coffee, or ice cream from the nearby eateries like Swell, DAT’s Amore, Dome Café, or Mullaloo Beach Hotel – all within easy walking distance.
The park also features public BBQs and picnic tables to lay out your picnic spread.
Family outings, school holiday activities, grandparents with grandkids, playgroup excursions, anyone who loves whales and ocean creatures, kids who love hands-on experiences, families wanting to do something special together.
Kids aged 6 and up can usually work the puppet strings on their own, but littlies from toddlers upwards love watching and can join in with grown-up help. Even babies in prams enjoy watching the whale move overhead!
Creative team:
- Creator/Designer: Leon Hendroff
- Composers: Iain Grandage and Melanie Robinson
- Dramaturg: Nadia Tavo
- Lighting Designer: Lucy Birkinshaw
- Creative Producer: Megan Fitzgerald
- Puppetry Director: Philip Mitchell
- Lead Soft Fabricator: Ffion Nutter
- Build Manager: Ben Nelson
The Whale was commissioned by City of Busselton, Curtin University and Waverley Council–Bondi Pavilion. Developed with support from Curtin University theatre arts students.
Program details
19 March 2026 - 22 March 2026
Free
All ages