Good Things Come in Threes – Fairy Tales and Puppetry for Primary Schools

Based on the original script & lyrics by Tony Appleby as provided in December 2014

An interactive, magical journey through three classic fairy tales

Bring the joy of storytelling and puppetry into your classroom with Good Things Come in Threes, an engaging puppet theatre experience for young students. Our high-energy performers guide students through three of the world’s favourite fairy tales, each brought to life with a different style of puppetry.

puppetry

Available Terms 1 & 2

Suitable for Foundation/Prep to Grade 3

Teacher resource pack included

50 minute session including interactive Q&A

Why schools love Good Things Come in Threes

“Visually engaging for students, excellent puppets, catchy songs. I enjoyed the costumes, music and puppets, an entertaining performance.” – Glenroy West Primary School, VIC

“Sensational!” – Overnewton Anglican Community College Junior School, VIC

“The best thing I’ve seen in a long time!…The puppets were amazing, really brilliant!… Brilliant voices!” – Scotch College, Hawthorn, VIC

“Absolutely Brilliant! Please, please come again. Great Inspiration for follow up activities.” – East Launceston Primary School, TAS

About the show

Students will experience three classic fairy tales:

  • Goldilocks and the Three Bears
  • The Three Little Pigs
  • The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Each tale is performed in a different style of puppetry — Shadow Puppetry, Hand Puppets, and Marionettes — giving students an exciting, hands-on exploration of the art form.

Here’s the twist! Students spin a “triangle of trickery” to choose which story will be told and select the style of puppetry — making every performance interactive and full of surprises.

Engaging, Educational, and Fun

Our performers combine puppetry, song, dance, and storytelling to create a fully immersive experience:

  • Students learn about different puppet styles and how to operate them
  • Behind-the-scenes insights into puppet design and construction
  • Hands-on opportunities for some students to try puppeteering themselves
  • A focus on recycled materials, encouraging students to make their own puppets at school or home

This approach supports the English curriculum, particularly listening and viewing skills, and the Creating Literature element by demonstrating how song, rhythm, dialogue, and performance bring stories to life.

“Absolutely Brilliant! Please, please come again. Great inspiration for follow-up activities.” — East Launceston Primary School, TAS

Interactive Q&A and Learning Opportunities

Between each puppet story, performers “lift the curtain” to show how characters were created and operated. Students get to:

  • Explore the puppeteering process
  • Discuss character design, voice work, and storytelling techniques
  • Participate in hands-on puppet operation
  • Engage in creative thinking and problem-solving

This session allows students to apply their learning in fun, interactive ways, making puppetry accessible and memorable.

Pricing

$7.50 (exc. GST) per student.

Minimum fee of $862.50 (exc. GST) for up to 115 students

Why choose Meerkat Productions?

For over 25 years, Meerkat Productions has delivered high-quality, curriculum-linked theatre to primary schools across Australia. Good Things Come in Threes combines fun, creativity, and learning, inspiring students to explore fairy tales, puppetry, and performance arts in an engaging and hands-on way.

Ready to book?

Bring puppet theatre magic into your classroom with Good Things Come in Threes!
Complete the enquiry form at the top of the page, or get in touch to discuss in-school or online options for your year levels.

Australian Curriculum links for Good Things Come in Threes

English

Strands: Language, Literature, Literacy

Comprehending and creating texts

  • AC9EFLY02 / AC9E1LY02 / AC9E2LY02: Discuss how characters, events and settings are depicted in different texts, including traditional tales.
  • AC9E2LE02 / AC9E3LE02: Identify how texts draw on patterns of traditional stories (e.g. “rule of three” in fairy tales).
  • AC9E3LY05 / AC9E4LY05: Discuss how language features, images and staging shape meaning in live performance.
  • AC9E4LY06 / AC9E5LY06: Identify how texts entertain, inform and engage audiences through humour, repetition and characterisation.

Speaking and listening

  • AC9EFLY07 / AC9E2LY07: Listen for specific information, respond appropriately and ask relevant questions during Q&A.
  • AC9E3LY07 / AC9E6LY07: Participate in discussions about stories and performances, expressing opinions about themes and messages.

Creating texts

  • AC9E2LY09 / AC9E3LY09: Create imaginative texts retelling familiar stories with new characters, dialogue or performance elements.

The Arts – Drama

Strands: Exploring and responding / Developing practices and skills / Sharing and communicating

  • AC9ADR2E01 / AC9ADR4E01: Explore and express ideas in drama based on familiar stories and fairy tales.
  • AC9ADR2P01 / AC9ADR4P01: Develop skills in voice, movement, and focus to perform character roles.
  • AC9ADR4S01 / AC9ADR6S01: Rehearse and perform drama for an audience, using elements such as role, situation, and tension.
  • AC9ADR4E02 / AC9ADR6E02: Reflect on how drama elements and conventions (e.g. puppetry, exaggeration, comedy) communicate ideas.
  • AC9ADR6D01: Examine how traditions (like the “rule of three” in storytelling) influence dramatic structure.

The Arts – Media Arts

  • AC9AMA2E01 / AC9AMA4E01: Explore how stories and characters are represented using sound, images, and movement.
  • AC9AMA4D01: Experiment with different media forms (e.g. shadow puppetry, hand puppets, marionettes) to create meaning.
  • AC9AMA6E02: Discuss how media artists use techniques and technology to tell stories and engage audiences.

Science

Strand: Physical sciences

  • AC9S2U03: Recognise that light comes from a source and can form shadows (Shadow puppets workshop).
  • AC9S3U03: Investigate how light is reflected, absorbed or blocked by different materials.
  • AC9S2I03: Use observation and questioning to explore cause and effect (e.g. how puppets or light create effects).

Visual Arts

  • AC9AVA2E01 / AC9AVA4E01: Explore ideas, materials and technologies to create visual artworks (e.g. puppet design).
  • AC9AVA4D01: Experiment with recycled and sustainable materials to construct artworks.
  • AC9AVA6E02: Discuss how artists use visual elements and design processes to communicate ideas and emotions.

Sustainability (Cross-Curriculum Priority)

  • Use of recycled materials (foam, couches, pool noodles) links with sustainability concepts:
    • OI.3: Sustainable futures depend on maintaining healthy social, economic, and natural systems.
    • OI.5: World views influence decisions about sustainability.
    • OI.7: Actions for a sustainable future reflect values of care, respect, and responsibility.

General Capabilities

  • Critical and Creative Thinking: Making predictions, problem-solving (how puppets move, how light works).
  • Personal and Social Capability: Cooperation, confidence performing, respectful listening during Q&A.
  • Literacy: Understanding narrative structure and rhyme.

Intercultural Understanding: Acknowledgement of Country and appreciation of storytelling traditions.