SPIKE THE ECHIDNA
Arts North West on tour

Follow a baby echidna on his journey to find out where he belongs.

Stolen as an egg from his mother's nest by a sneaky rat, a baby echidna hatches far from home — with no idea who he is or where he's meant to be. He's found by a young girl playing alone in the bush. She's on her own too, hiding from a group of kids who won't leave her alone.

Because the echidna hasn't grown his spikes yet, she has no idea what kind of creature he is. As she tries to work out where he belongs, she accidentally lands him in the nest of a crocodile, then an emu, then a turtle. He's frightened, rejected, alone — and so is she, in her own way.

As the story unfolds, the pair help each other. She helps him find where he belongs. He helps her find her own "spikes" — the courage to stand up to the bullies.

Spike the Echidna is an interactive experience for family audiences, brought to life with lively original music by Mal Webb and beautifully crafted puppetry. It's entertaining and funny, but it's also a gentle way into bigger conversations — about difference, about belonging, about standing up for yourself and for others. Along the way, it's a delightful dip into the biology of one of Australia's most curious animals: the egg-laying echidna.

After the performance, stick around for a shadow puppetry demonstration — a hands-on introduction to a beautifully accessible storytelling medium, perfect for curious young hands.

📍 Saturday 8 August, 10:30am (running time approx. 40 minutes)
📍 Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts Museum and Theatre, Tenterfield

🎟️ Tickets:
Children (2–16): $10
Adults: $15
Family (2 adults + 2 children): $40

Family (1 Adult + 3 Children): $40
Infants under 2: Free

Contact the host of Spike the Echidna @ Tenterfield School of Arts