Study Guide

Sun Runners

Welcome to Sun Runners! An immersive audio adventure created in collaboration with Audioplay. This study guide has been created in alignment with The Australian Curriculum.

The general capabilities are embedded within specific learning activities and can be identified with the following icons:

A Note from the Director

I’ve been creating audio driven theatre works for the past decade and in the last couple of years that has morphed into Audioplay. Sun Runners is the most complex Audioplay experience we’ve rolled out to date – we’ve built out the experience to include a visual world that works alongside the audio.

Audioplay taps into the way I used to play when I was a kid. Everyday objects and spaces sub in for imagined worlds. And these imagined worlds are detailed and serious – I try to stay true to the seriousness of play in the way Sun Runners is performed – the stakes are high, the drama is real. This is the spirit that underpins Sun Runners.

When we’re plotting the stories for the episodes it’s always a juggle between finding plot points that are good for the story and thinking about how that is going to translate into activities in the real world. We hope that Sun Runners is going to translate into homes of all shapes and sizes as the characters roam through space all over the house.

James Peter Brown composed the music. We leant into a retro synth-based score to give a nod to the nostalgia of the world and also just because that kind of music is so damn fun.

Meet the Creative Team

Zoe Pepper

Creator, Director, Co-writer

Zoe is a writer and director for film and theatre. After ten years as one of Western Australia’s top theatre directors, she was selected for Screenwest’s prestigious Feature Navigator program. In 2018, Zoe completed two web series, LIFT, a Mad Kids production starring Lucy Durack and directed by Zoe which aired on 10peach, and The Big Spaghetti, which Zoe directed and co-wrote. In 2019, The Big Spaghetti premiered at Slamdance Film Festival and Zoe was awarded an Australian Director’s Guild Award for best direction in an Online Comedy Series.

For theatre Zoe directed and co-wrote The Irresistible, which was nominated for Best Play at the Helpmann Awards. Zoe has directed for Black Swan State Theatre Company, Perth Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company.  She was a recipient of the Australia Council Creative Australia Fellowship. She studied film directing at AFTRS, acting at WAAPA and performance at the Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris.

Gemma Pepper

Producer

Gemma is a creative producer with 20 years’ experience working across a diverse spectrum of creative projects; including theatre, festivals, new media and policy/program development. Gemma has a long history producing theatre and events in Australia, working for companies including Marrugeku, Stalker, Erth, Sydney Dance Company, the Enlighten Festival (Canberra), Geelong Performing Arts Centre, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and Side Pony Productions. Most recently Gemma produced the 2019 Australian tour of Side Pony Productions work The Irresistible, which enjoyed sold-out seasons at Dark Mofo, Sydney Opera House and Geelong Arts Centre.

Clare Testoni

Co-Writer

Clare is a writer and puppeteer. Much of her work involves shadow puppetry or live cinema. Her recent work includes Tale of Tales, The Double, and The Beast and The Bride. Clare trained in puppetry in Sydney, Perth, and Bamberg, Germany. She is a graduate of the FirstHand program at Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, and the Black Swan Emerging Writers group. She has performed with The Last Great Hunt, ATYP, Barking Gecko, and Siren Theatre Company. Clare was awarded All Ages Theatre Development grant from Barking Gecko and The Blue Room Theatre in 2019 for The Children Grim and Wild which is currently in development with The Last Great Hunt. She was the artist in residence at Spare Parts Puppet Theatre in 2020.

James Peter Brown

Composer

James Peter Brown is a Sydney based composer who has worked collaboratively with companies both locally and internationally to produce soundtracks for performance, film, animation and games.

He has extensive experience working in collaborative, multi-artform processes and has formed ongoing artistic relationships collaborations with artists and companies including: Bethesda, Victoria Hunt, Jane Campion, Adult Swim, The Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, William Yang, George Khut, Matthew Day, Hans Van Den Broeck (SOIT), POST, and Urban Theatre Projects.

 

Xoe Baird

Sound Designer
Xoe Baird is a Perth based sound editor and designer. Since 2007, Xoe has worked in a wide range of mediums including film, television, radio, and video games. After working for many year is both location and post sound,  in 2013, she made the jump to full time post-production and in 2016 she opened her own studio, XB Studios, located in Western Australia. Xoe has won numerous awards for her work, including most recently receiving an AACTA in 2019 for Documentary 100 Days to Victory. Xoe is also a great supporter of the location industry and is the WA Chapter leader for the Australian Screen Sound Guild.

Elizabeth Hay

Actor

Elizabeth is a South Australian based performer. She completed her training at the Flinders Drama Centre.

She has worked on Gods of Strangers, Jesikah, Volpone, Red Cross Letters (State Theatre Company South Australia), Emil and the Detectives (Slingsby Theatre Company), Yo Diddle Diddle (Patch Theatre) and Grug and the Rainbow (Windmill Theatre Co). Elizabeth was a deviser and performer in Stories in the Dark, which won the InSpace Development Award at the 2017 Adelaide Fringe. She has been involved with many local independent theatre companies, including ActNow Theatre as a performer and board member. Elizabeth joined the main cast of Danger 5 for the series return on SBS, and has appeared in other locally made television productions and commercials.

She has been a proud member of MEAA since graduating, and was recently made president of the South Australian Branch of Equity.

Antoine Jelk

Actor

Since his graduation from Flinders Drama Centre in 2014, Antoine has had the privilege of working with companies from all tiers of the Adelaide Theatre industry.

His credits include Tartuffe and Long Tan by State Theatre Company and Brink Productions, Delugethe premiere work by Tiny Bricks for the Adelaide Festival, Schmidt by Back Porch Productions, Eurydice by Foul Play Theatre, Eyes by Sandpit , Beep by Windmill Theatre Company, and Yo Diddle Diddle by Patch. Antoine most recently performed in A View From The Bridge with State Theatre Company SA.

He has composed original music for The Wolves and Strata/Forgiveness (Rumpus) and the web-series Honey, I’m Home (Windmill Theatre Company).

Anna Steen

Actor

Anna is a theatre graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

She has performed extensively with State Theatre Company South Australia, and was part of their Ensemble from 2017-2018. She has worked with isthisyours?, NowYesNow, Griffin Theatre Company and Bell Shakespeare among others.

Anna has worked as performer and director on several children’s musicals and started children’s theatre company Gaia Theatre, where she has worked as performer, producer and writer. She has also worked extensively with ABC Audio as a producer and voice artist in radio dramas and audio books. Anna hosts the children’s story podcast Kid’s Story Room.

Nathan O'Keefe

Actor

Nathan has worked extensively in theatre, both nationally and internationally. He has toured Asia, USA, and all across Australia, working for companies such as Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Windmill Theatre Company, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Griffin Theatre, Malthouse, Bell Shakespeare, Brink, Slingsby and Patch Theatre Company to name a few.

Nathan was a member of the State Theatre Company Actors Ensemble for 2017 and 2018.

Nathan is an Adelaide Theatre Guide and Adelaide Critics Circle Award recipient.

What is Audioplay?

Audioplay is a brand-new audio experience for kids created by the award winning team at Side Pony Productions. Audioplay lets kids step into the story and be the characters that they love, complete with a blockbuster soundtrack. Audioplay experiences can be found at festivals far and wide as well as being available to download to play at home.

Audioplay uses mobile technologies to create immersive and thrilling storytelling experiences for children and young people to engage with. Blending elements of gaming, live storytelling and play, Audioplay strives to use technology to create alternative at-home entertainment, wholly reliant on screens, while acknowledging the power and impact of technology on the way we create.

Side Pony Productions, the team behind Audioplay, have over 15 years’ experience creating innovative and engaging theatre. Side Pony strives to make innovative theatre that is an engaging, smart celebration of humanity. It’s better than screen time… it’s Audioplay.

Meet the Characters

Olli

Olli is the youngest Sun Runner there ever was. A fearless pilot who will stop at nothing to win the race, protect her brother and go on an adventure.

Gamma

Gamma is Ollie’s best friend. He’s a bit of a worry wart and can be overly cautious, but he’s the best navigator there is.

How to (Audio)Play

Welcome to Sun Runners, a co-production between Windmill Theatre Co and Audioplay. Audioplay uses mobile technologies to create immersive audio-adventures for listeners to engage with at home.

Using the purpose-built Audioplay app (available on iOS and Android), Audioplay combines elements of gaming, theatrical storytelling and interactive play to create thrilling experiences for listeners.

Sun Runners will take you on a heart-stopping race around the sun. If your school is based in South Australia, you should have been sent an email with a special code that will unlock all six episodes of Sun Runners – be sure to have that handy, you’ll need it when setting up the app.

  • Download the Audioplay app

  • Create an account in the app. You will need to provide your name and email address and read and agree to Audioplay’s terms and conditions. At the bottom of the sign-up screen, you’ll be prompted to enter your school code. Enter the code to unlock every episode of Sun Runners. If you’re a South Australian teacher, click here to retrieve your code.

  • Once you’ve created an account, parental consent is required for players under 18. Please read and click to continue.

  • You’re in! Once your account is set up, connect a pair of headphones to your device and click on Sun Runners to begin your intergalactic adventure. If every episode doesn’t appear as free, you may need to shut the app down and reboot it for the code to kick in.

  • Once you click on the first episode, it will tell you everything you need to know (and any household items required) for the great race.

In addition to this guide, we have also created some communications templates for you to pass onto parents and/or guardians in you community. Click here to access an editable pdf version of a letter that can be passed on to your community members.

 

Download this Guide

Key Themes and Ideas

Teamwork & Collaboration

Central to the success of Olli and Gamma is their dedication to each other. Their friendship sustains them on their journey across the universe and, without each other, they wouldn’t be able to complete the Sun Run.

Perseverence

Olli and Gamma escape many an interstellar calamity to be able to participate in the Sun Run. It’s their fearless perseverance and resilience that enables them to not only overcome adversity, but to thrive in the great race.

Our Relationship with Technology

At every level, Sun Runners is a celebration of the possibilities of technology. Olli and Gamma utilise tech to race in the Sun Run and listeners utilise tech to participate in the narrative. Sun Runners is a great lens through which to (re)think our relationship to technology and how it inhibits and enables creativity.

Sci-Fi and Self-Discovery

Olli is taken over by a hydronian who possesses her and tries to sabotage her chance at winning the Sun Run. Science Fiction is an inquisitive genre – one that uses space and UFO’s to make us think about the world we live in. What is sucking our minds away from us? What is changing the way we think and feel about the world around us? Is anything polluting our minds?



Implementing Audioplay

Community Letter

Sun Runners is a new type of theatrical experience. Through the use of mobile technology in the Audioplay app, the experience blends elements of gaming, interactive play and live storytelling to create an immersive experiencer for listeners. It’s an active form of entertainment that feels fresh, exciting and more than a bit groundbreaking.

In order to help you get the word out about Sun Runners project to students, parents and guardians in your community we’ve drafted up a pro forma letter that you can use as a basis for your communications.

The letter outlines what the project is, where it can be downloaded, and directs readers to relevant information and our FAQ page. We’ve provided the letter in Word and PDF formats below. These can be edited as necessary. If you have any questions about the project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at education@windmill.org.au.

Download a word version of the letter here

Download an editable pdf of the letter here



Year 3-4: The Arts: Drama



Years 5-6: The Arts: Drama



Years 7-8: The Arts: Drama

Acknowledgements

Produced by Windmill Theatre Co. Developed and compiled by Drama Education Specialists Melissa Newton-Turner and Astrid Pill, Windmill Theatre Company and Audioplay.

The activities and resources contained in this document are designed for educators as the starting point for developing more comprehensive lessons for this work.

© Copyright protects this Education Resource. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited. However, limited photocopying for classroom use only is permitted by educational institutions.

This resource is proudly supported by the South Australian Department for Education and the Lang Foundation.

  •  Lang Foundation