Ni Hao from Shanghai 2010, World Expo..

We've just experienced a record crowd of 1.03 million people in one day. With this many people in one place at the same time you can imagine that people like us would be warmly appreciated. In fact we are delighting people everyday that we're here and it is truly amazing the responses we have been receiving.

Perhaps it's because the kind of performance we do is rarely seen in China and perhaps we are great at what we do, but the Chinese devour us and our work like excited children with a new toy. They touch us and want photographs, they jostle for prime position to stand in front of us smiling joyously with their hands brandishing the two finger peace symbol.

With a week to go the DFAT (Department of Foreign Trade) have extended our stay as we have been so loved by expo visitors and the staff alike. After 16 hardcore days of huge crowds and 6 shows per day the team will head back home for a much deserved rest. (actually the much deserved rest is a fantasy, there is much to do and some us will continue to hit the ground running ) Peace.

Goose Lagoon , Darwin Festival 2010.

August 13th,14th and 15th
Darwin Entertainment Center

Created by Gary Lang and his loyal dancers with puppetry direction and operation by Erth's artistic director Scott Wright, this newpiece of dance theatre promises to be a wonderful fusion of mediums and styles.

Goose Lagoon is a traditional story from Gary's family which tells of a young girl who is cursed by a Gulka (magic man) and is unable to change from a native magpie goose and into her human form. She has fallen in love with a young hunter and is therefore prevented from truly being with him. And to make matters even more dramatic the annual goose hunting season has commenced.

Erth have designed and created an oversized magpie goose and a six pack gaggle for the show and will provide a somewhat magical element as we see the girl/goose transformation happen before the audiences eyes.

It's quite cathartic and poetic with elements of traditional, contemporary and ballet woven into the movement language. Goose Lagoon is also a lovely play on the classical ballet "Swan Lake" with tones of landscape and traditional storytelling.

If you are in Darwin or thinking of visiting for this years festival make sure that Goose Lagoon is on your list of must see shows, not just because it sounds like a wonderful show, but also to support to a show that has been locally produced and aims to be of the highest quality which will hopefully tour both nationally and international for years to come.

On-line articles...

Here are some recent online posts that we like:

Dinosaur puppet in Singapore

THE DEVIN'S ADVOCATE: DINOSAURS INVADE LA

Erth brings to town their Dinosaur Petting Zoo.

Enjoy!

IBunyip, a new work in progress

Late last year, we started creating a new show based on indigenous spirit creatures. Bringing the creatures we discovered with the creation of Nargun and the Stars to the stage, we realised that there are many more creatures told in aboriginal folklore all over Australia. We've been establishing an ongoing relationship with an Eastern Arnhem Land community called Maningrida and have been introduced to creatures called Yawk Yawk's. They are best described as freshwater mermaids and exist in stories that come from numerous countries from around the Maningrida area.

With what we have already learnt from Aunty Caroline and Aunty Rachel from Victoria and stories from Uncle Greg who is an elder from the Sydney area we hope to continue learning more stories from around Australia and will launch a fresh new show for kids and their grown-ups that will open their eyes to the amazing and magical aspects of Australia's many landscapes.

Stay tuned for up dates

chicago loves erth as much as erth loves chicago

Erth's T-rex has, for the last 2 weeks, been thrilling visitors to Chicago's Field Museum. After hitting the ground running the Erth team appeared on no less than 5 tv networks and stole the attention of the paper media effortlessly. Now halfway through their season, Erth has been asked to extend their stay thanx to the fantastic response to our newest dinosaur.

"It's like feeding sugar to the children and mobs are starting to behave like any crazed crowd. Today the kids literally tried to tear the T-rex apart as if if were a high listed celebrity like the Rolling Stones, The Beatles or Justin Bieber. If it were wearing clothes it would be naked by the time it got back to the dressing room".

Firewater 2010

Erth are busy in design and construction for Firewater 2010, a part of Sydney's Winter Light Festival "Vivid". It tells a beautiful bolly-wood inspired pop-up tale of a piece of Australian History.

June 11-14th 6pm - 10pm, Campbells Cove, The Rocks, Sydney

Free Public Event.

T-Rex in Chicago

Erth will be traveling to The Field Museum, Chicago USA, to coincide with the release of "Sue", one of the most complete T-rex skeletons in the world. Scott and Sharon will be there from May 25th to June 20.

Check the museum website for updates.

Petting Zoo National Tour

Erth are currently undertaking the largest run of performances in the company's history. With the overwhelming audience response to the show over the past year, "Erth's Dinosaur Petting Zoo" has had plenty of interest from venues all over the country. 

"It's a petting zoo.... but not as you know it!"

Check the performance calendar for dates and locations.