South Australia’s internationally recognised children’s theatre company, Patch Theatre,  has received a Helpmann Award for Best Presentation for Children for its production, Me and My Shadow, in a star-studded affair at the Sydney Opera House.

Me and My Shadow is a gentle story depicting the fanciful escapades of a girl who finds a way to be friends with her shadow. Following last year’s premiere in Adelaide, the show has performed critically acclaimed seasons at the Sydney Opera House and The Arts Centre in Melbourne and will tour nationally in 2012.

Patch Theatre’s Artistic Director, Dave Brown, was delighted at the outcome of last night’s ceremony.

“I am really thrilled that this poetic visual theatre work for children has been recognized in this way. It is atypical theatre for children, and I love the fact people call Me and My Shadow ‘beautiful’. It is an aesthetically stunning work that was developed in a completely collaborative process over a two-year period”.

“Me and My Shadow is a delightful performance that engages children and adults in equal measure”, says General Manager Christine Schloithe. “The Creative Team that developed this show are all highly respected and valued theatre creators and practitioners, and Patch Theatre is very honoured to receive the Helpmann Award for this work.”

The Creative Team behind Me and My Shadow is comprised of some of South Australia’s most respected arts practitioners including Geoff Cobham and Roz Hervey as co-directors and co-designers with Artistic Director Dave Brown, acclaimed composer Zoe Barry and popular local performers Astrid Pill and Nathan O’Keefe.

Resident in Norwood where the company also manages the Odeon Theatre, Patch Theatre has quietly accumulated an enviable range of awards for its high quality theatre for 4-8 year olds, including a Helpmann Award in 2008 for Patch’s enduring production, Mr. McGee and the Biting Flea, which returns for an Adelaide season at the Odeon Theatre in August before touring regional South Australia.