Perth Voice Interactive

WITH the school holidays looming, the Voice has an arty Red Cross parcel to keep kids entertained and parents sane during the two-week break.

The mega-popular Dog Man books by Dav Pilkey have been turned into a musical (it seems everything is being turned into a musical these days with Mrs Doubtfire recently opening in London’s West End).

With the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, Dog Man loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. 

What more could you ask for?

Dog Man: The Musical is at The Octagon Theatre in Crawley from September 27-30.

There’s another great kids show on at the Blue Room Theatre – Alex and Evie and the Forever Falling Rain.

Evie has just moved to a place where it’s always raining. In fact, it’s rained every minute of every day of every year, forever. But this year, before her 10th birthday, Evie decides she’s going to stop the rain. And then Alex arrives at her front door…

It’s a heartwarming tale about never giving up and how friendships and relationships can profoundly alter our view of the world.

The show has an accompanying learning resource which will keep kids entertained for days. Alex and Evie and the Forever Falling Rain is on September 21-30.

The WA Museum has a host of school break activities including Codebreakers (part scavenger hunt, part escape room, it’s a self-guided family tour with a twist), Beyond the Tomb (explore the afterlife through activities in the Beyond the Tomb activation space) and Story Time – 30 minutes of story-telling for younger kids in the the colourful Museum galleries.

If you’re down Freo way, there’s a heap of stuff to mark the 40th anniversary of Australia II’s victory in the America’s Cup, including an open day with live music, activities and food trucks at Victoria Quay tomorrow (Sunday September 24).

There’s also a free, daily, kite-building workshop at the WA Maritime Museum until October 8.

If you fancy something a bit more avant-garde, then PICA are hosting the Sea of Light by Patch Theatre. Using a UV torch as a paintbrush, kids steer ships that leave glowing paths of light in their wake across the sea floor. 

Suitable for kids under seven, the installation is on from September 26-30.

If you want to experience a world-class theatre show with high production values and a top-notch cast then Mary Poppins at the Crown Theatre Perth is a great shout.

The new production from Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, stars Australian icon Patti Newton as Bird Woman alongside two of Australia’s brightest talents – Stefanie Jones as Mary and showstopping Jack Chambers as Bert. 

Adapted from the beloved stories by PL Travers and the original film, the world’s favourite Nanny comes to life on stage in a spectacular and unforgettable production.

If you want to take your kids to the cinema, but not to see a Marvel movie or Transformers 12: the exhaust pipe wars, then check out Scrapper at Luna Leederville.

Winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, the film follows a 12-year-old girl who lives happily alone in London until her estranged father (Harris Dickinson, Triangle of Sadness) reenters her life. 

After her mother dies, resourceful Georgie manages to convince social workers and the surrounding community alike that she is in the care of her uncle ‘Winston Churchill’. She steals bikes with her best mate Ali and sells them on to get by. At home, her flat is filled with magic – the resident spiders are constantly making snarky comments and she seems to be building a strange tower.

When her estranged father turns up out of blue, she’s forced to confront what’s really going on. 

by STEPHEN POLLOCK