ZOOOM Lights Up Asia: International tour success thanks to support from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

Patch Theatre has been very busy over the past couple of months as our award-winning production ZOOOM recently completed a vibrant international tour with seasons in Shanghai, Taipei and Kaohsiung proudly supported by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

The tour brought ZOOOM’s playful world of light and discovery to new audiences, offering many children their first-ever experience of Australian theatre. With over 5,000 children and their families attending across all three locations, the tour was a powerful reminder of how art transcends language and geography. Our opening performance in Taipei also marked Patch’s 250th performance of the show, an amazing milestone made possible by the Foundation’s funding.

"Touring internationally gives us the chance to share Australian stories with the world and to see children respond with wonder and delight no matter where we are." said Geoff Cobham, Artistic Director, Patch Theatre.

The tour not only enabled Patch to reach audiences we wouldn’t otherwise have connected with, but also helped strengthen cultural ties through meaningful artistic exchange.

Performer Temeka Lawlor, who has been part of the ZOOOM creative team since the very beginning, expressed "I have toured with ZOOOM to many different countries over the last few years with Patch and it is always incredible to look out from the stage, wherever we are, and see our audiences respond and react to the show! I adore seeing how the show connects with children from different cultures - laughter, joy and curiosity really are universal."

Gary Cowan, CEO, National Foundation for Australia-China Relations said “Supporting ZOOOM’s tour reflects the Foundation’s commitment to building people-to-people links across the region through the power of the arts. It has been a pleasure to see the impact that Patch Theatre has had on children and families across the tour and how the performances have allowed children to connect to new cultures in such an exciting way.”

We are deeply grateful to National Foundation for Australia-China Relations for making this unforgettable journey possible and for helping us continue our mission to spark imagination through extraordinary theatre.