A newly commissioned interactive experience seeks to captivate children while nurturing their appreciation for art.

The Wonderverse immersive experience was commissioned by the University of Adelaide for its 150th-anniversary celebration and was co-designed with Patch Theatre.

Patch Theatre’s artistic director Geoff Cobham says the installation gives children the opportunity to play, follow their impulses and be inquisitive within a creative environment.

He says it invites children to create their own musical pieces alongside music by Elisha Umuhuri from DEM MOB hip hop group and explore various interactive environments.

“Wonderverse was created to celebrate the University of Adelaide’s 150 years of innovation and discovery by blending art and science in a way that sparks curiosity in children and families alike,” he says.

“We wanted to offer an immersive experience where children actively participate, exploring the wonders of light, sound, and creativity as they play and interact with their environment.”

In one space, Cobham tells CityMag, children can create an impressive sound and light show with powerful torches while, in another, they can control a forest of colourful light beams by jumping on pressure pads.

Children can also turn the overhead moving light on and off and control the colour and shape of it.

“The journey through Wonderverse reflects the beauty of science – from the dance of tiny particles to the sweep of galaxies – inviting children to explore big ideas about leadership, discovery, and wonder,” he says.

“Awe is at the heart of the experience,” he says. “We believe children naturally embrace this sense of vastness and possibility. By placing them at the centre of the experience, we hope to nurture their innate curiosity and creativity, encouraging them to see the world in new and imaginative ways.”

Cobham says the experience has been so popular that the individual and school experiences are sold out and they’ve had to start up a waitlist. He says Patch Theatre also hopes to expand Wonderverse to share with more audiences in the future.

“One 12-year-old child said, ‘I can normally work out how they do these things with LEDs and stuff, but I had no idea how they did this, it was like magic!’ followed by ‘I’m going to come to come to University and study science,'” he says.

Wonderverse, presented by Patch Theatre and specially commissioned by the University of Adelaide for their 150th year, is showing at Bonython Hall until 20 October. Join the waitlist for free tickets or try your luck at the door.