Follow a seed pod on an immersive journey through the Top End seasons.

Together with a nature guide, POD battles fire, flood, storms, wind and monsoonal rains on a journey through its lifecycle and out to sea. Cocoons burst into life, grass trees dance, storm clouds morph into horses as they cross the sky and POD befriends birds, animals and insects who help it battle all the elements of a year.

Created on Larrakia country and honouring the traditional Gulumoerrgin (Larrakia) cycle of the seasons, POD is a magical multi-sensory and sensory friendly adventure for all ages. The story and our natural world are brought to life through live music, puppetry, immersive projections and an interactive set that the audience are invited to explore.

“My toddler was mesmerised… It’s rare to find something so calming yet so engaging.”
– Parent, Darwin Festival

“Thank you so much for such an inclusive production – it’s so beautiful when our kids can see themselves on stage and doing things that they might not have thought was possible.”
– Flynn, Teacher, Henbury Secondary School, Darwin

Presented by Luminous Productions and Artback NT, this production premiered at Darwin Festival in 2024.

Luminous Productions is an independent, regional, all-abilities, visual theatre company based in Garramilla/Darwin NT. They curate professional, mixed-ability ensembles to create multi-sensory rich work made with, by and for people with disability and neurodiversity, culturally and linguistically diverse audiences and for children and family audiences. They have a strong ethos and practice of embedded training, mentoring and skills development for emerging all abilities artists underpinning their company strategic purpose.

Made possible with funding from Creative Australia.

Artistic Director/Producer/Creator 
Tania Lieman

Performers 
Jonathan Tan
Bryn Wackett
Georgia Cruickshank

Music Composition and Performance 
Mat Cunliffe
Roxanne Voulanas

Lighting Designer 
Tomm Lydiard

Design 
Tania Lieman, Beck Adams, Kris Bird

Stage Manager 
Swahnnya DeAlmeida

Artists’ bios

Bryn Wackett – Performer/ Musician

Bryn is a multidisciplinary artist working across dance, theatre and community performance. Classically trained in Cecchetti ballet and contemporary dance, and based on Larrakia land since 2007, her practice is grounded in collaboration, access and embodiment. A former core member of NT Dance Company and a long-time collaborator with Tracks Dance Company and the NT Music School, she also leads and contributes to large-scale community festivals, creating inclusive, place-responsive performance and learning experiences across the Northern Territory.

Matt Cunliffe – Performer/ Musician
is an ARIA hall of fame member as a musician and an ARIA and AACTA award nominated sound engineer and composer with an extensive range of live and studio based experience. Soundtrack production credits include 50+ soundtracks for theatre and dance with NT based arts companies including Tracks Dance, Darwin Theatre Company, Darwin Community Arts, Royal National Theatre of Jingili, Knock ‘Em Down Theatre and Brown’s Mart Arts.

Swahnnya De Almeida – Stage Manager
Swahnnya is a Sri Lankan-Australian singer, actor, educator and emerging live production professional. She currently resides in Garramilla/Darwin while continuing to expand her creative arts resume. Recent performance credits include lead roles in Romeo & Juliet (Darwin Theatre Company, 2023) and The Wedding Singer (Darwin Musical Theatre, 2024). Her production credits include Producer/Vocal Director for UNSW Revues, Vice President of Gove Arts Theatre, Teaching Artist for Corrugated Iron Youth Arts, Assistant Stage Manager for Mary Poppins (Superstar Productions), Production Manager for She Swallowed A Fly (Brown’s Mart BUILD UP 2023), and Stage Manager for We Keep Everything (Brown’s Mart).

“Thank you so much for such an inclusive production—It’s so beautiful when our kids can see themselves on stage and doing things that they might not have thought was possible.”

Flynn, Teacher, Henbury Secondary School, Darwin

“We just saw POD at Darwin Festival and it was beautiful! Exactly what we wanted for a kid’s festival experience. The textures, movement, soundscape and lighting were so stunning.”

Amy Hetherington, NT Comedian

“Congratulations on such an incredible show. It was a spectacular, multi-sensory experience and the timing and transitions were perfect. I loved the interaction and connection with the audience that also utilised the performers strengths.”

Audience member

“Amazing, beautiful show that’s an absolute treat for the senses!”

Audience member

“I am very moved right now. That was utterly beautiful.”

Audience member

“My toddler was mesmerised… It’s rare to find something so calming yet so engaging.”

Parent, Darwin Festival