When Me & My Shadow first premiered in Adelaide in 2010, it changed not only how audiences experienced children’s theatre, but how Patch Theatre approached making work.
Gentle and visually rich, the show invited young audiences to explore the joys and trials of friendship reflected on stage. With almost no words and a strong focus on design, movement and music, Me & My Shadow quickly became a standout production. This way of making theatre, where design becomes one of the show’s characters, has gone on to shape all of Patch’s productions since.
Now, the show is being lovingly remounted to introduce a new generation to a Patch classic.
Shortly after its Adelaide premiere, the show began touring internationally, visiting more than 45 venues and performing to nearly 90,000 children in cities including Sydney, Melbourne, New York, Washington and Beijing.
“We toured Taiwan recently, and I saw a beautiful show about shadows at Taipei Children’s Festival,” says Patch Artistic Director Geoff Cobham. “The delight audiences took in the simple exploration of light and shadow made me remember we have the perfect show to do this back home.”
The show’s impact was widely recognised, earning both Australia’s premier theatre accolade, the Helpmann Award, and the prestigious Victor Award in America. Years on, its themes of friendship and imagination continue to resonate with children and the adults who accompany them.
At the time of its original season, Me & My Shadow was considered groundbreaking. It marked the beginning of Patch’s now-signature design-led approach where lighting, sound, set and performance work together to tell the story.
This year’s remount reunites Cobham with original performers Nathan O’Keefe and Astrid Pill, who co-created the work with Patch creatives Dave Brown, Roz Hervey and Zoë Barry.
“This beautiful show was made with excitement, energy and jumping!” says Nathan. “After 16 years, I can’t wait to hop back on board and spring into action. It’s bound to be a lot of fun!”
“I am very excited to have the privilege of revisiting a show we created so long ago,” says Astrid. “I can’t wait to see how time (and aging!) will impact what we do and how this generation of children and their adults respond.”
For today’s audiences, Me & My Shadow feels fresh, playful and full of discovery. For Patch Theatre, it’s a joyful reminder that simple ideas, like light and shadow, can create theatre that lasts through generations.
Location: Space Theatre, Adelaide
When: 15, 22 and 29 August 2026
More information patchtheatre.org.au/me-and-my-shadow
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