A heartfelt adventure through the eyes of a shelter puppy, Arts Centre Melbourne presents the Victorian premiere of The Last Great Hunt’s New Owner in The Showroom this July.
Knowing that dogs are the best medicine, Mabel adopts Bart from the animal shelter to help heal her widowed heart. But Mabel is old, and Bart is young, and not all love can last forever.
Suddenly alone, Bart embarks on an urban odyssey of towering hot dog carts, menacing dog-nappers and junkyard camaraderie. A wistful, wordless journey from a dog’s point of view, New Owner melds tender puppetry with spellbinding animation to paint a poignant portrait of friendship, loss and new beginnings.
“New Owner resonates across ages because it speaks to the universal experience of forming bonds and learning to let go. We hope audiences leave with full hearts, perhaps a new appreciation for their pets, and a gentle reminder of the beauty and fragility of connection,” said Co-Creators Arielle Gray and Tim Watts.
Based in Perth, The Last Great Hunt is an internationally renowned, artist-led collective of creators, innovators and explorers. With every new show, the team hunts for new ways to connect audiences all around the world with high-quality original work that is engaging, moving and accessible to all.
Their work includes Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer; Night, Night; and The Present. New Owner was nominated for Best Presentation for Children at the 2017 Helpmann Awards and winner of a 2019 Dora Award for Theatre For Young Audiences.
New Owner
The Showroom – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Performances: 17 – 18 July 2026
Bookings: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
For more information, visit: www.thelastgreathunt.com for details.
Image: The Last Great Hunt presents New Owner – photo by Daniel Grant