Review: Punk Rock Potter

**Picture (L to R):** Mali Just and Cetima Leedy Villarin (plus puppets) star in Role Initiative Theatre Company's *Punk Rock Potter*, during the 2026 Anywhere Festival Moreton Bay (Image Credit: Creative Futures Photography).

Punk Rock Potter is a high-energy children’s show that features two talented young performers, several great puppets, and numerous re-purposed punk rock songs—all in a mere 30-minutes. With lots of opportunities for audience interaction, Punk Rock Potter is a great show for lovers of punk rock, devotees of the Potter books, and perfect for kids of all ages (probably aged 5-105)!

But, before I go any further, it’s important to clarify that Punk Rock Potter is a show about the works of Beatrix, not the stories about Harry. The Punk Rock Potter musical draws on three of Beatrix Potter’s most-loved books: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Jemmima Puddleduck, and The Tale of Tom Kitten.

I guess it’s unlikely that there are many people who have not grown up without receiving a copy of these illustrated children’s books, or being asked to read them to children as bedtime stories. Beatrix Potter was a talented writer, illustrator, natural scientist, philanthropist and conservationist who was renowned for her series of children’s books and animal stories. Beatrix Potter might remind you of beautifully hand drawn children’s books full of moral tales about how children should behave, and the perils of not doing as you are told. But you might not immediately connect this charming genre with the rebellious high-energy messages of 1970s punk rock.

Which is where the skill of the writer and director, Peter Muir, comes in. Muir (Director, Producer and Writer of Punk Rock Potter) has developed a great piece of theatre for children, and their parents, which reminds us that Potter’s tales also have a strong undercurrent of messages about standing up to authority—making the stories ‘perfect for punk.’ And be reassured that, in the style of the best children’s theatre, Punk Rock Potter has a script that is written for children but also has plenty to make their parents and accompanying adults laugh out loud. Look out for the balloon bagpipes, the ‘Carry On’ song, the ‘pretty fly’ fox, and the closing list of ‘lessons.’

Mali Just and Cetima Leedy Villarin are engaging and enthusiastic emerging artists, with great comic timing, confident vocals, and strong puppetry skills. Punk Rock Potter is ostensibly focused on entertaining kids, but this is a show that has plenty to keep the accompanying ‘big people’ amused. Asides such as the lines about mushrooms, the pie puppet, and punk rock numbers were all perfectly timed and led to several laugh-out-loud moments for the adults in the preview audience. The interactions with the kids of all ages also meant that younger members of the audience had a ball, whether called up onstage or adding some sound effects and booing.

Role Initiative Theatre Company (RITC) brings a professional approach to youth theatre, creating opportunities for school and QUT students to focus a contemporary lens on traditional texts and stories. RITC also provides opportunities for creatives to gain valuable experience (this latest show benefits from the support of Tim Bell [Lighting Design] and Tayla Cooper [Sound Designer]). The RITC team won a 2025 Anywhere Festival Award for their production of Bawdy Tales & Critical Fails, and it’s great to see that the team is back again with more. The 2026 Moreton Bay Anywhere Festival includes two RIT shows: Punk Rock Potter and OEDIPUS // END OF LINE. There may still be some tickets available or each show, so check out the Anywhere Festival website.

Having seen the preview of Punk Rock Potter this is a show that deserves to reach wider audiences—though future performances, and perhaps also by publishing the text. Mali and Cetima are excellent children’s entertainers, so I do hope that the team might have the opportunities to bring the show to wider audiences—perhaps at local libraries or in school classrooms in and around Moreton Bay and Brisbane. After all, we could all do with a good laugh and a little escapism at the moment.

Catherine Lawrence

**Picture:** Great audience connection in Role Initiative Theatre Company's *Punk Rock Potter*, during the 2026 Moreton Bay Anywhere Festival (Image Credit: Creative Futures Photography).

Audience information: The 2026 Anywhere Festival Moreon Bay program includes performances of Punk Rock Potter at Strathpine, Narangba and North Lakes Community Halls/Centres (9, 16 & 17 May 2026). Tickets $20 (plus $4.40 ticket fee). All ages (recommend 5+). 30 minutes.

The reviewer attended the 9 May 2026 9:30am performance at the Strathpine Community Centre (199 Gympie Road, Strathpine, 4500).

Geoff Lawrence