The Boy and the Ball

The Boy and the Ball is a gentle, wordless theatre piece, presented by Stephen Noonan in partnership with The Paper Boats as part of Perth’s Awesome Festival for Bright Young Things. Playing in the Middar Room, also known Rehearsal Room Two, this curtained space, is perfect for this intimate little piece of theatre. Aimed at 3- and 4-year-olds. It caters perfectly for this age group.

Devised and performed by Stephen Noonan, this is a solo piece, performed by Stephen with the assistance of a young audience member. In the first performance, this was a delightful little girl named Isla.

 The set, designed by Greg Cousins is simply an arrangement of different sized cardboard tubes, some of which are pressed into action as props. The delightful aspect is that this could be replicated in some measure at home for creative play. The sound is an important aspect in this play without dialogue and is fun and intuitive, composed by James Brown.

As Stephen interacts with the ball and the tubes, the children are drawn into his world, by his expert expression and timing, and gradually the show becomes are story about friendship as he begins to interact with the child in the audience, and how this one tentative friendship becomes friendship with man.

A perfect story for kindergarteners beginning their first independent friendships, this was a refreshing little show for grownups too.

Kimberley Shaw

Photo credit: Andy Rasheed - EyeFood Photography.