The Tomorrowland Game

Using the medium of puppet theatre, the Zoo Education Service seeks to explore the problem of habitat destruction and the consquent effect on wildlife. Since puppetry allows for participatory and creative discovery of the issues involved, the program will enable students to recognise the ways in which some aspects of our lives impact on the environment.

The Rivet Popper, an employee of an exploitative organisation who is deliberately destructive to the Earth's resources for mere economic survival; The Cosmic Gambler, a corporate high flyer, seeking short term capital gain with a total disregard for the future; and The Fix-It Guy, a person faced with ecological destruction of the Earth who seeks sound lifestyle alternatives for human needs and individual actions.

Passengers board the plane via the tree trunk tunnel and after the Game's safety check and emergency rules are read by the Steward, a simulated flight begins. Through eight 'plane windows' illuminated environmental dioramas appear: Air, Water, Wetlands, Oceans, Energy Resources, Forests, Wilderness, Antarctica and Land Quality. Lights flicker, the soundtrack becomes ominous and each scene is destroyed by human agency. In a blackout, an emergency is declared by the Steward. Bags over their heads, the passengers shuffle off the plane hand in hand through a maze listening to the voice of David Attenborough repeating the World Wildlife Foundation's goals for sustainable development of the Earth.

The passengers discuss the issues and characteristics of their environmental deed with the Steward who leads them to seek help from Mr. Fix-It who introduces play-making guidelines, puppet making techniques and performance possibilities before they return to school and classroom development of their ideas and plans in preparation for their next visit to the Zoo.

The school groups returned two at a time to the Zoo for a third and final half day visit which began with a parade of their puppets through the Zoo grounds accompanied by the Steward and Mr Fix-It as a public display of their work, and as encouragement to the Zoo animals that young people are concerned about the world ecological systems under threat.2

Each group ran a brief technical rehearsal of their play after the parade and performed their answer to the Gambler's challenge for each other and for him.

After seeing the plays, the Gambler is profoundly moved by the energy and intent of the Players who retain their deed, and are each given a replica mirror tile badge so they can help find more people who will help save the endangered species and habitats of the world.

Passing the Rivet Popper on the way out, they discover he is putting the rivets back in the plane after learning a few things from the arguments advanced in their plays.

The approach we felt was an innovative blending of theatre, environmental and futures education It was based on the fundamental premise which explains habitat loss and endangerment - needs versus wants. In presenting this model, students can make their own assessments of where they fit into the needs versus wants balance. Ownership and commitment to the lifestyle choice then belongs to the individual concerned. No competition, no preaching but hopefully a real resolution of a serious environmental problem. The Melbourne Zoo School is indebted to Handspan Theatre Company for the success of The Tommorowland Game.

The children were highly motivated by the theatrical presentation and all entered into the fantasy involved. I feel the children are more aware of environmental issue and of the importance that their input will have in the future - a most professional production.

The mirror brooches have been a real hit, the children have been wearing them and have grasped a simplified version of their meaning. It is difficult to tell whether they have made any conscious commitments to conservation of our earth but I do know they have become more aware of the many issues which is a positive start. They've asked if they can visit the Zoo again and see Mr Fix-It!

Thanks for the wonderful Endangered Species Program. A number of the students felt it was the best excursion they have ever been on and they put a lot of effort into their puppets and performances. I think this was terrific!!