Hermit is a playful 35-minute performance about finding home, and it had the kids curious from the very beginning.
One of my favourite things about this performance was the way it started. Rather than immediately revealing the main character, we were introduced to him through tiny windows in a box. You could only catch little glimpses of what was happening inside, which instantly sparked curiosity among the children.
I could hear questions coming from left, right and centre: “What’s in the box?”, “Why is the box moving?”, “Who’s in the box?”. It was such a simple but clever way to draw the children into the story. Simone De Jong Company really knew how to hook young audiences in without needing to overwhelm them with dialogue or complicated storytelling.
There were also plenty of playful moments throughout the show that encouraged the kids to get involved. They were invited to call out their thoughts and reactions, and there was plenty of laughter as the character shyly interacted with, and at times tried to hide from, the audience. It was lovely hearing the children respond so naturally to what was happening on stage.
One thing to keep in mind if you’re planning to bring younger children is that parts of the performance use dim lighting. This may feel a little dark or spooky for some children, particularly those who are sensitive to darker environments. If this is a concern, it is worth preparing them beforehand.
The show finishes with a really lovely interactive element. The children were invited onto the stage to explore different buttons that create different sounds and even had moments to interact with the performer. It gave them the opportunity to become part of the experience rather than simply watching from their seats.
Overall, Hermit is a gentle, imaginative and engaging performance that uses curiosity, shadows, sound and playful interaction to tell its story. It’s a great example of how theatre for young children doesn’t need to be loud or complicated to capture their attention. Sometimes a mysterious box is all it takes the get the imaginations going.
Hermit is currently performing at the State Theatre Centre of WA until the 3rd of October 2026 as part of the AWESOME Festival.