Saltbush is an immersive and interactive journey through the culture and language of Aboriginal Australia.
Be amazed by this incredible immersive experience from Insite Arts.
Saltbush is a plant that can be found throughout Australia in almost all Aboriginal lands, and so it represents a common thread between all the different nations of Australian Indigenous peoples. This shared idea acted as a point of inspiration for the narrative, contemporary painting, dance and instrumental music that were created by the Aboriginal artists in this production. These artistic forms were used as a means of interpreting the natural features of the landscape in an Indigenous mythological context. Through its sensor and infrared cameras, Saltbush allows the children to interact, play and perform in the production and provides an immersive experience of the artwork. This also provides a unique experience for parents and teachers as they watch the children become involved. The narrative centres on the journey of two friends and their spiritual guide on foot as they cross Australian landscapes – river country, an urban landscape, desert and the sea. The journey is one of discovering the land, growing an understanding and acknowledging how it challenges or provokes personal journeys. TPO’s award winning artistry in multi-media theatre for young people is combined with the work of acclaimed professional Aboriginal artists Lou Bennett (music), Delwyn Mannix (visual art), Deon Hastie and Anna Balducci (choreography), Sasha Zahra (dramaturgy) under the artistic direction of former Come Out director Jason Cross and TPO director Davide Venturini. The recent tour of Saltbush to China in 2024 was generously supported by the Creative Australia International Travel Fund.