Mr Huff – Building Resilience through Drama in your Kinder or Primary School

Nurture emotional wellbeing and dispel ‘the huffs’!

Your students will build confidence and emotional resilience with our highly engaging adaptation of Anna Walker’s award-winning book, Mr Huff.
This uplifting performance gives children practical tools to understand and manage big emotions — all through the power of theatre, music and laughter.

Available Terms 1, 2 & 4

In-School & online options

Suitable for Foundation to Grade 6

1 hour session including Q&A

Teacher resource pack included

 

What schools are saying:

“Wonderful that children are exposed to such relevant mental health issues through quality drama.” – St Columba Anglican School, Port Macquarie, NSW

“Excellent opportunities for all children to participate.  Age appropriate to help embed learning how to manage emotions.” – St Stephen’s College, Upper Coomera, QLD

“I have one particular student who often experiences ‘the huffs’. You made his day. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!” – Gayndah State School, QLD

About the show:

Our adaptation of Mr Huff supports schools in creating a strong wellbeing culture and aligns with the Australian Curriculum focus on Personal and Social Capability.
The program helps students recognise, name and manage their emotions, building resilience, self-awareness and emotional intelligence in ways that stick.

Curriculum Connections

  • Personal & Social Capability (Self-Awareness & Self-Management)
  • Health & Physical Education
  • Critical & Creative Thinking
  • English
  • The Arts

See detailed curriculum links at the bottom of the page. 

This production directly supports the goals of the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2021) — helping schools embed lifelong wellbeing skills through engaging arts experiences.

 

Show synopsis:

Bill is having a bad day—and everywhere he goes, Mr Huff follows.
What begins as a small grumpy cloud grows bigger and darker as Bill’s frustration, anger, and anxiety take over.
When Mr Huff becomes too big to ignore, Bill finally faces his feelings and discovers that naming and understanding emotions can make them easier to manage.

Through music, movement, and puppetry, students learn:

  • How to recognise and name emotions
  • How behaviour changes when emotions grow unchecked
  • Practical coping strategies like Bouncing Back and finding healthy outlets

 

Engaging theatre that teaches:

Our performers don’t just act — they connect.
Through a lively mix of puppetry, music, dance and audience participation, students are drawn into Bill’s story from start to finish. The show moves through the whole space, keeping every child alert, engaged and ready to join in.

“Such an engaging and professional performance to teach the children about managing difficult emotions!!”
– Ivanhoe Primary School, VIC

Written especially for Foundation/Prep – Grade 6, this adaptation helps children recognise their emotions and discover strategies to manage them. It’s fast-paced, interactive and full of heart — so much fun, they won’t even realise they’re learning!

“I liked the use of the entire space – not just the stage. The students were so engaged.”
– Our Lady Queen of the Peace, Greystanes NSW

As the story unfolds, Mr Huff grows scene by scene until he becomes a full-sized character who interacts with the audience. When he finally cries, it’s a beautiful moment of empathy and understanding that stays with students long after the show ends.

Our award-winning songwriting team has created songs that perfectly balance education and entertainment, keeping students bopping, smiling, and learning all at once.

Teacher resource pack:

Each booking includes a comprehensive teacher resource pack with curriculum-aligned activities to explore before and after the performance.
These ready-to-use lessons help students reflect on the story’s themes, practise emotional vocabulary, and apply wellbeing strategies in everyday life.

“Great ideas for activities to use in health and to do growth mindset.”
– Mother Teresa PS, Ormeau QLD

Interactive Q&A:

After the performance, we host a structured and lively Q&A session that supports the Critical and Creative Thinking curriculum.
Students can ask about the story, the puppets, the music, and how we brought Mr Huff to life — encouraging curiosity, reflection and deeper understanding.

“Was great how it was run by you and not just the kids asking random questions. (10/10)”
– Bargara State School, Bargara QLD

Online option:

If we can’t visit your school in person, our online performance brings Mr Huff straight to your classroom.
Enjoy a professional recording of the show plus a pre-recorded Q&A with the performers and creative team.

  • Available for one full week
  • Watch anytime, as often as you like
  • Includes Teacher Resource Pack

$109 + GST per class (approx. 25 students)
Smaller class? Let us know — we’ll tailor the price for you.

In-School 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 been bringing Australian stories to life in schools across the country.
Our shows combine drama, music and laughter with strong curriculum links, leaving students inspired — and teachers delighted.

If you’re looking for a primary school wellbeing incursion that sparks conversation, builds resilience and creates real impact, Mr Huff is the perfect fit.

Ready to book?

Bring Mr Huff to your school and help your students turn their bad days around.
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 Mr Huff

This set of links ensures teachers can map the Mr Huff program to curriculum outcomes in English, Health & PE, and Drama, while reinforcing general capabilities like emotional literacy, resilience, and communication.

English (Literacy, Language, Literature)

  • ACELY1650 / ACELY1660 / ACELY1670 (Foundation–Yr 2): Engage in conversations and discussions, listen to the ideas of others, and contribute relevant ideas.
  • ACELY1680 / ACELY1692 (Yr 3–6): Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations incorporating learned content, language features, and multimodal elements.
  • ACELT1580 / ACELT1596 / ACELT1605 (Foundation–Yr 4): Respond to and create texts that explore personal and social issues and reflect on how characters represent emotions.
  • ACELT1613 / ACELT1615 (Yr 5–6): Analyse and compare how texts explore similar themes (e.g., emotions, resilience).
  • ACELT1831 / ACELT1832 (Yr 3–6): Create imaginative texts (plays, freeze frames, role-plays) that explore characters, settings, and situations.

Health & Physical Education (Personal, Social, and Community Health)

  • ACPPS001 / ACPPS017 (Foundation–Yr 2): Identify and describe emotions and describe ways to include others.
  • ACPPS020 / ACPPS038 (Yr 1–4): Practise strategies to manage feelings and behaviours, and seek help when needed.
  • ACPPS033 (Yr 3–4): Identify influences that strengthen identities (friends, family, teachers).
  • ACPPS056 (Yr 5–6): Recognise the influence of emotions on behaviour and practise strategies to manage these.
  • ACPPS054 (Yr 5–6): Investigate resources and strategies to seek help about issues affecting wellbeing.

The Arts – Drama

  • ACADRM027 (Foundation–Yr 2): Use voice, movement, and role to imagine and create situations.
  • ACADRM031 (Yr 3–4): Explore ideas and narrative structures through role and situation.
  • ACADRM036 (Yr 5–6): Rehearse and perform dramatic action using conventions of story and character.
  • ACADRR030 / ACADRR034 / ACADRR038 (Foundation–Yr 6): Respond to drama by discussing how feelings, ideas and stories are conveyed.

General Capabilities

  • Personal and Social Capability:
    • Recognising and regulating emotions (Mr Huff as a metaphor for anxiety/worry).
    • Developing empathy (understanding Bill’s perspective and peers’ feelings).
    • Building resilience (identifying strategies to “bounce back”).
  • Critical and Creative Thinking:
    • Role play, freeze frames, and storytelling encourage multiple perspectives.
  • Literacy:
    • Expanding emotional vocabulary (grumpy, worried, icky, blah, etc).
    • Using descriptive language to convey feelings.