• Created by: Theatre Research Institute
• In Association With: Anthea Davis and Erick Mitsak
• Music by: Citizen Zane

Synopsis

The Imaginarium will take you on a journey of the extraordinary and inspirational life of E. W. Cole, a radical thinker of the 1800s inspired by possibilities of a multicultural society which can still serve to inspire our current world! This live art, audio work travels through the Coburg library and our unique wagon stage sharing the love of books. Inhabit a land of dreamscape dioramas filled with objects and magical paper art, visions of World Federation, flying machines and equality for all people. Although he is most remembered for the “Cole’s Funny Picture Books”, this radical thinking unique Melbourne personality was a man ahead of his time. As a Utopian thinker he encouraged education through fun: mind puzzles, quirky stories, retelling bizarre worldly happenings and inventions; most notably through his notions and philosophical hopes of World Federation including race relations, respect for Indigenous cultures and promoting a mindset of inclusiveness. His reasons were simply to inspire knowledge through books. This September marks the 100th anniversary of E. W. Cole’s passing, so this journey honours and celebrates his wondrous visions and contribution to what he always hoped Melbourne to be: an inspiring multicultural hub. AUSLAN interpretation available at 11:15am.