Because different isn’t something to fix…
An original musical by Jolyon James
Robot Song : Original Trailer
“ I was genuinely teary-eyed, exhilarated and inspired by the end. Robot Song is a truly magical show, full of wit and emotional intelligence.”
The Story//
“Theatre we all need to see – it’s eye-opening, engaging, and real.” Theatre Works
It begins with a robot arm in a recycling bin but becomes an anthem for everyone who’s ever felt out of place.
When it comes to friends, juniper has no idea what all the fuss is about. In fact when classmates tease her for being like a robot she takes it as a compliment. She loves robots. They are rational and predictable two things that humans definitely are not.
But when a shocking incident at school threatens to completely unravel her life, Juniper is forced to step out of the safety of her ordered and rational world and confront the messy unpredictability of humans — and herself.
With live music, breathtaking visuals, Robot Song is an award-winning musical that celebrates difference with humour, heart and radical empathy. Inspired by real events, Robot Song reminds us that not only are we are all different — it is actually what makes us all the same.
Robot Song Demo Tracks
Featuring Ashley Pyke and Nathan Gilkes
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“You’re not annoying Juniper, never, things are only annoying if they haven't found their proper place"
Dad
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Build it.
“I know I'm not meant to say shut up. Noooo! Now I’ve said it twice…”
Juniper
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Grow it.
Keep that pterodactyl away from your veggie patch. You’ve put a lot of work into those zucchinis.”
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Sell it.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
The lead character, Juniper, has a successful journey through this complex process, which can hopefully provide a blueprint for other young people. Juniper learns about acceptance and the idea that acceptance can only happen with self-acceptance. This is a highly tough nut to crack for anyone let alone an 12 year old girl but with the unconditional love and support of her parents it is achieved in the most spectacular way.
I’d love to think Robot Song provides a glimmer of optimism in a world that feels desperately in need of it. I don’t pretend that it provides all the answers but if it can spark a conversation about how we can nurture, respect and support our most precious commodity, children, then I feel it has been worthwhile..
Autism and Creativity
An interview with Robot Song creator
Jolyon James
A few years back I found a video I had made with my son. I had built a WALL-E style robot for him out of a nappy box and some coffee cups. Creative projects have always been part of our language and instinctively as a parent I noticed that they were often our clearest moments of communication. It wasn’t until he was diagnosed with autism two years later that I realised the importance of this style of play with him.
My background is in visual arts. In a sense it was my first language, as I grew up in a family of professional artists. Over the last 40 years I have been squirrelling away ridiculous ideas that I imagined might someday be useful and somehow they have all coalesced inside my new theatre show, Robot Song. There was something about the language and experience of creativity that is fundamental to my son’s and subsequently my own, ability to understand the world.
Robot Song is primarily a personal reflection about parenting and the profound ability creativity has to cut through when language fails. The show uses live animation, animatronics, puppetry and photography culminating in an actual giant robot I built with my two sons in my own backyard. Visually its ridiculous!
After my son’s diagnosis, I had to radically reassess many fundamental things that I had taken for granted. This show is a story about parenting and the challenges parents may face as guardians of a child who is seen as ‘different’ or needs a little extra support. But at its core is a conversation about the right to define ourselves on our own terms.
Young peoples lives are noisy complex places full of competing and often contradictory agendas. As both a parent and an artist who spends considerable time working with young people I can see how dangerous it can be to hand that definition of ourselves to others. What can sometimes arise is the idea that we are at the whim of things beyond our control, that we are powerless.
Fun Stuff//
Make it
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.
