Lendlease Darling Quarter Theatre, January 20 at 10.30am

Tim Sneddon in Sticks Stones Broken Bones. Photo: supplied

Sticks Stones Broken Bones is an award-winning show from Bunk Puppets, which has toured to 15 countries, picking up gongs including Best Newcomer and Spirit of the Fringe at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010 and Best Puppet Show at the Adelaide Fringe in 2011.

The production is currently in Sydney for the first time, presented by Monkey Baa Theatre Company.

Created and directed by Jeff Achtem and performed by Tim Sneddon, it celebrates shadow puppetry and the art of creative play.

Drawing on his background in clowning, puppetry and physical theatre, Sneddon is an engaging, comical figure, who uses all kinds of bits and bobs including a shoe, teddy bear, cardboard, tinsel, socks, balloon, curly wig and lots of sticky tape to create objects that look nothing in real life but which are then transformed on screen.

The fun of the show is wondering what these random looking objects will become as shadow puppets, and the clever way Sneddon interacts with them to create on-screen vignettes.

A few segments including a comical brain transplant and a chess game didn’t really connect with the children around me but others drew lots of laughter.

A man breaking out various dance moves is pretty funny, while a hilarious Ninja routine is a show highlight. At the performance I saw, a very fit and game father from the audience threw himself into playing a Ninja who fights a monster (created on screen by Sneddon), delighting adults and kids alike.

Running around an hour and recommended for ages 5+, Sticks Stones Broken Bones ends with the observation that “you are never too old to play”, a sentiment that captures the spirit of the show.

Sticks Stones Broken Bones plays at the Lendlease Darling Quarter Theatre until January 22. Bookings: www. monkeybaa.com.au or 02 8624 9340