THE OFF SEASON: Come On In

by Stephanie Williams

Baby, it’s cold outside! We love that crisp, cool air, kids’ rosy cheeks and the rawness of Tasmania in winter. We also love heading indoors. Winter has a way of drawing people together, as we gather in warm, welcoming spaces. Across the state, cosy corners and simple comforts offer the perfect excuse to slow down and settle in for the Off Season.

Become the landed gentry of Hobart Town, captured for posterity at Olde Time Portraits (oldetimeportraits.com.au) in Blackmans Bay. A gentleman dressed in a top hat and tails, a lady adorned in jewels, an elegant gown and lace gloves, and the children smart in suits, silk dresses and bonnets. You’ll have at your disposal authentic 1870s props including clay pipes, top hats and old books found in the former residence of Amy Westbrook, daughter of the manager of the Bank of Van Diemen’s Land. Say cheese!

*Olde Time Portraits. Pic: Helena Blundell*

Step into the storybook with ExitLeft (exitleft.com.au) this school holidays, where children become the characters of a fairytale brought vividly to life. A day-long workshop during the July school holidays gives creative kids aged six to 11 the chance to rehearse, stage and film a reimagined version of a classic tale. With age-appropriate scripts, music and costumes, each child is given a role to play in the unfolding story. From Mary Poppins and The Wizard of Oz to Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk and Treasure Island, every session becomes its own cinematic escape. Then watch the magic unfold with your very own recording of the production to enjoy at home.

Open the door to the St Helens History Room (sthelenshistoryroom.com), where the town’s maritime history sits quietly, waiting to be discovered. Free during the month of August, wander through changing exhibitions capturing the local fishing industry’s history, early settlement and the people who shaped this coastal community.

Warm up with a welcoming hot chocolate before exploring the creative spaces of Ulverstone’s Hive Tasmania (hivetasmania.com.au) on a guided tour. Peek into the community arts and craft studios, uncover stories in the museum and enjoy hands-on moments in the science centre. Winter in Tasmania brings some of the clearest skies of the year, so don’t forget to look up – in Hive’s planetarium, the ceiling becomes sky and the sky becomes a story, guiding you outward into space.

Dance can connect us in ways few other things can, fostering social connection, joy and reflection. In All In, a boundary-breaking work by for Theatre North (theatrenorth.com.au), it unfolds as something alive rather than observed, shaped by dancers from Dance Makers Collective and local dance groups, moving to the beat of Fiona Hill’s score. Led by director/choreographer Miranda Wheen, expect the best dance party you’ve ever been to. If the mood hits right, the dance just might take hold of you, on 23-24 July.

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