24 May 2004

The Shepparton Art Gallery will welcome the beloved Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) children’s show Play School, with a new exhibition, ‘Hickory Dickory Dock – the Changing Face of Play School’ opening soon.

Greater Shepparton is the first stop for ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’, a tour from the National Museum of Australia and ABC, supported by Visions of Australia, and offers visitors a unique opportunity to see much-loved props from Play School in the gallery. 

Shepparton Art Gallery director, Leanne Willis, said the exhibition is expected to be very popular and will feature some well-known characters from the 38 year old children’s television show.

“The exhibition focuses on props from the show that were donated to the museum after a set redesign,” Ms Willis said.

“People who come to the exhibition will be able to reminisce about their own memories of Play School when they see the toys and archival footage.”

“Who could miss an opportunity to see the real Big Ted, look through the famous arch window, or tell the time on the rocket clock?”

“The exhibition also treats us to a look behind the scenes of the show, including lesser-known stories about the ‘people with games’, for example, the mysterious disappearance of the original Little Ted in 1973,” Ms Willis added.

Popular Play School presenter and Australian actor Rhys Muldoon will officially open the exhibition at a special event at 5.30 pm on 3rd June. 

In conjunction with this exhibition, the gallery will be holding a series of free workshops for parents of children at pre-school age.  Bookings are essential.

Admission to Shepparton Art Gallery is free and it is open seven days a week from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. The gallery is located in the Eastbank Centre,
70 Welsford Street, Shepparton, phone 5832 9861.