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A person wearing a lifejacket and holding a torch.

We Come From Far, Far Away Term 2

15 - 19 May 2023

In the Studio

Schools

Australian Premiere

Flying in direct from Norway, comes an inspiring true story performed in a traditional Mongolian Yurt. This remarkable story uses shadow puppetry, comedy and live music to tell the moving journey of two young boys seeking refuge.

NIE tells this story with such care, unassuming theatricality and direct engagement with its young audience. Such beautifully pointed work.

The Stage

Teacher’s Resource Pack

Our resources are packed with practical, creative activities that will add to your student’s experience. 

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Curriculum Links

Exploring themes of migration and displacement, resilience, human experience and connection to place, multidisciplinary theatre and use of simple technologies, representations of diversity in English, Drama, Music, History and Geography.

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Resources for teachers

The Opera House’s Teacher Resources provide inspirational activities to watch, listen and read for students in the classroom or learning at home. 

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Stories full of energy and hope for the future

Inside the theatre is a big tent.
Inside the big tent is a smaller tent.
Inside this smaller tent is a boy.

He is called Abdallah, and he comes from Syria. He wants to tell you some things, about life, boats, tents, trains and phones, McDonalds and about Death. He also has a secret about promises that have been made and broken.

From Norwegian/Czech/British company NIE (New International Encounter) comes a tale inspired by true stories. Performed in a traditional Mongolian Yurt, We Come From Far, Far Away uses storytelling, shadow puppetry, comedy, clowning and live music to tell a big story in an intimate way. It tells the true story of one boy and his friend,  instilled with humour, energy and hope. 

Sydney Opera House presents a New International Encounter production

Nie

We Come From Far, Far Away is performed in the immersive setting of a Mongolian yurt! Students and teachers will also sit within this yurt during the performance.

What is a Mongolian Yurt?

A yurt is a portable, circular tent made of flexible wood and covered in felt or skins. Yurts have been the primary style of home in Central Asia, particularly Mongolia, for thousands of years. 

If your team have any additional accessibility queries or needs, please reach out to our team when booking at creativelearning@sydneyoperahouse.com

About NIE (New International Encounter)

Award-winning European theatre-makers NIE developed We Come From Far, Far Away working with Hvalstad Transittmottak, a centre that provides a first reception point for young refugees (aged 13 – 18) who have arrived alone to claim asylum in Norway. 

The performance is based on a documentary and was shared with NIE through talks and workshops. The participants’ stories are troublesome and unbelievable, but as with most young people, the stories shared are filled with energy, life force and hope for the future. 

Formed in 2001, Over the past 20 years, NIE has created 39 shows and performed more than 3500 times in over 1000 places across three continents.

NIE rehearsed its first three shows in the old Sokol gymnastic hall in Mseno, a small town in the north of the Czech Republic. Those three shows – My Long Journey Home, Past Half Remembered and The End of Everything Ever – won numerous awards and were performed all over the world, from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to New York, Mexico City and Seoul. They now form the European Narratives Trilogy, and still tour together for special festivals.

Since creating the Trilogy, NIE has gone on to create new shows in co-production with venues and theatre companies from across Europe, including site-specific work and theatre for younger audiences.

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Ticket and Travel Subsidy

The Sydney Opera House is committed to providing the very best national and international performing arts experiences to NSW students as part of their educational studies.

The Sydney Opera House Arts Assist program provides the full cost of the Creative Learning performance ticket and $5 per student toward travel costs. School applications are assessed according to socioeconomic disadvantage, schools with special needs and individual responses regarding the School Profile and School Community.

The Sydney Opera House thanks and acknowledges our generous Arts Assist donors; The Greatorex Foundation and Sydney Opera House Ladies’ Committee.

Other information

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