Family Theatre · Ages 3+ · Non-verbal

Sandpiper, Clam and Fish

A wordless story about quarrelling, forgiveness and getting along

Date16 Dec 2025
Time60 min · no interval
VenueRiverside Theatre, Parramatta
TicketsPast Performance
About the Performance

A story of harmony, told without a word

By a small river, a Fisherman struggles to catch enough fish to keep his wife happy and turns instead on the Sandpiper and the Clam. They defeat him — but then fall to quarrelling over a mischievous fish, and find themselves easily caught.

When the Fisherman and his wife fall to fighting in turn, the Sandpiper and the Clam slip away to safety, and from that day on never fight again. A play full of childlike wonder, told with no dialogue — pure artistic expression through movement, puppetry and design that audiences of any language can enjoy.

01

China National Theatre for Children

China's foremost children's theatre company, with a six-decade history of original works in puppetry, physical theatre and music.

02

Non-verbal Performance

Suitable for audiences of every language background — pure expression through movement, puppetry and design.

03

Riverside Theatre, Parramatta

Western Sydney's flagship arts venue — accessible, family-friendly, and a short walk from Parramatta Station.

Cast and Creative Team

The Company Behind the Play

Tuesday, 16 December 2025 · Riverside Theatre, Parramatta · 60 minutes, no interval

Cast
The Fisherman
Song Jianlin
The Sandpiper
Zhang Weiwei
The Clam
Hu Jingbo
The Fisherman's Wife
Chen Lei
Fish / Sandpiper Shadow Performer
Zhang Xinwen
School of Fish / Puppet Operator
Duan Xiaogeng
China National Theatre for Children
Creative Team
Playwright
Feng Li
Director
Wu Xu
Composer & Sound Designer
Cheng Jin
Scenic & Puppet Designer
Feng Lei
Puppet Designer & Director
Wang Lei
Presented by Ryan Maxwell Event · Hosted by China Cultural Centre in Sydney · Supported by the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Sydney and the China Chamber of Commerce in Australia · Official Partner: ICBC Sydney Branch · Performed in non-verbal form — suitable for audiences of all language backgrounds.

About the Company

China National Theatre for Children is the country's foremost children's theatre company, with a six-decade history of original works in puppetry, physical theatre and music. The company tours internationally and produces stage works for audiences aged three and up.

Sandpiper, Clam and Fish draws on an ancient Chinese parable about the futility of conflict — adapted here as a wordless, sixty-minute play that uses movement, puppetry, scenic design, and original music in place of dialogue. Suitable for the whole family.

Meet Our Visiting Companies →

The Venue

Riverside Theatre, Parramatta

Address

Cnr Church & Market St, Parramatta NSW 2150

Capacity

761 seats · Riverside Theatre

Getting There

Parramatta Station, 5 min walk

Accessibility

Fully accessible · companion seating

Past Performance

Sandpiper, Clam and Fish

Dec 12, 2025 · 7:30 PM
StandardStalls Upper, General Admission
$85
PremiumReserved Seating, Programme Included
$130
VIPFront Row, Drinks, Pre-concert Talk
$200
Past Performance
This performance has concluded. Photos and highlights below.
  • Digital programme booklet
  • Welcome drink (Premium & VIP)
  • Pre-concert artist talk (VIP)
  • Complimentary parking (VIP)
Looking for upcoming events?Browse upcoming performances →
Presented by Ryan Maxwell Event in partnership with China Cultural Centre in Sydney and China National Theatre for Children. Official Partner: ICBC Sydney Branch.

Gallery

Moments from the Stage

A glimpse of Sandpiper, Clam and Fish at Riverside Theatre, Parramatta.