The five-year partnership will see the Sydney home of Monkey Baa Theatre Company renamed to the ARA Darling Quarter Theatre.
The ARA Group is proud to announce a five-year principal partnership with the award-winning Monkey Baa Theatre Company, Australia’s leading professional theatre company for young audiences.
Edward Federman, Executive Chair and Managing Director of ARA, is looking forward to building upon ARA’s support of Sydney’s arts sector by supporting Australia’s foremost theatre company for children.
“The Monkey Baa Theatre Company is a great organisation with a range of exciting programs for young people. ARA is a strong supporter of the arts in Sydney and we believe this is an excellent opportunity to continue this support” – Ed Federman
Established in 1997, Monkey Baa is a not-for-profit theatre company renowned for their ‘whole of childhood’ approach to theatre. Well over 1 million Australian children, families and teachers have attended a Monkey Baa production or workshop since it began. The custom-made, fully accessible venue is based in the heart of Darling Harbour and provides a diverse range of plays, performances and workshops for young people of all ages.
“All young people deserve to see excellent theatre that speaks to them as equals – whether they’re in Sydney or Karratha or anywhere in between” – Jeremy Miller, Executive Director of Monkey Baa Theatre Company
Monkey Baa’s Co-founders and Creative Directors, Eva Di Cesare and Sandra Eldridge have adapted numerous Australian children’s books to the stage and are currently working on an all new production of Possum Magic, which is set to debut in 2019. The beloved Australian book by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas will be Monkey Baa’s 25th production.
“We value this partnership with ARA. Not only is their financial support of Monkey Baa important to us as a not-for-profit theatre, we value who they are as a company: their investment in the arts across Sydney – such as the Sydney Writers’ Festival and Vivid Sydney – and their ethical approach to their business and to broader society. We look forward to working with them as partners”, Monkey Baa’s Executive Director, Jeremy Miller, says of the partnership.
Monkey Baa is the most widely traveling theatre company in Australia, touring both nationally and overseas and working exclusively with theatres across rural, regional and metropolitan Australia as part of their mission to ensure all young people have access to theatre. As a dedicated space for theatre for young people, Monkey Baa also hosts productions by renowned Australian theatre companies, such as Windmill Theatre (SA) and Terrapin Puppet Theatre (TAS).
