Reasons to Stay Inside has opened at the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

A departure from my usual work, this is a play for kids and families. I wanted to create a piece that I could share with my nieces and nephews. I also really wanted to tell a story about anxiety. I think this is a show I would have liked the 10 year old version of myself to see – so I knew I wasn’t alone and so I could talk about it more easily with my family. Maybe.

Reasons to Stay Inside is about Pedro who, one day, just can’t go outside. Instead, he builds a giant pillow fort. And he won’t leave it. Flora, his best friend, tries everything she can to get Pedro to come back outside. You can’t stay in your fort forever, can you?

A show for 8 to 108 year olds about irritating best friends, dancing pegacorns, pillow forts and that weird anxious feeling.

Playing at Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall – Tuesday 22 September to Saturday 3 October (no shows Monday or Sunday) 1pm (45 minutes). Tickets available online or call 03 9660 9666.

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Directed by Prue Clark

Starring Emma Annand and Oliver Coleman

Lighting Design by Amelia Lever-Davidson

Set, Props and Costume Design by Yvetter Turnbull

Sound Design by Lachlan Millsom

Stage Management by Luke Preer

Written and Produced by Katy Warner