A magical farewell from one of SA’s most loved theatre companies
Internationally acclaimed Adelaide theatre company Slingsby is bringing something truly special to Adelaide Festival 2026, and it will be their final Adelaide season.
A Concise Compendium of Wonder is a beautifully imagined triptych made up of three original stories: The Childhood of the World, The Giant’s Garden and The Tree of Light. Together, they take families on a journey across time and space, exploring our relationship with nature through wonder-filled storytelling.
Written by celebrated Australian authors Jennifer Mills, Ursula Dubosarsky and Ceridwen Dovey, and directed by Slingsby Artistic Director Andy Packer, the production centres on themes of environmental stewardship, resilience and hope.
“These stories are about young people fighting for nature – and winning,” says Packer.
Adding to the magic is the debut of The Wandering Hall of Possibility, Slingsby’s regeneratively designed, transportable wooden theatre, nestled on Plane Tree Lawn in the Adelaide Botanic Garden. The venue transforms with each story, creating three immersive worlds for audiences to discover.
Designed for children aged eight and over, this is a rare opportunity for families to experience a bold, imaginative and deeply meaningful piece of theatre, and to farewell a company that has shaped Australian children’s theatre for nearly two decades.
A Concise Compendium of Wonder
Adelaide Festival 2026
Dates: 18 February – 15 March 2026
Venue: The Wandering Hall of Possibility, Plane Tree Lawn, Adelaide Botanic Garden
Tickets: Available via adelaidefestival.com.au
Explore the show slingsby.net.au/a-concise-compendium-of-wonder/
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