Cultural and creative life

Soft Forest invites you to connect to the natural world

Meet Fauna, your playful guide on a mission to entertain and educate.

Soft Forest by Erth Visual & Physical Inc. Image: Abril Felman/City of Sydney

With a naïve, playful and curious approach, Fauna invites children to be part of a fun, interactive performance at Paddington Reservoir Gardens.

Soft Forest is a new serene, sensory experience that explores the fragility of nature and tells the story of animals, endangered species and the importance of conservation.

Produced by Erth Visual & Physical Inc, Soft Forest is a theatrical performance that will take you on a path of calm, connection and wonder within the sunken garden.

“Fauna is the voice of the trees who speaks to the children,” Erth artistic director Scott Wright said.

“The performance gently urges us to slow down, hear the whispers of the forest and rediscover kindness in ourselves and each other.

“In a time when the world feels full of noise and frustration, she offers a path back to the natural world – a reconnection to something ancient, grounding and full of magic.”

Soft Forest is part of the City of Sydney’s Art & About program which aims to enliven public spaces through art and creativity.

“Art & About is a celebration of art in unconventional spaces – something that brings Sydneysiders together with local and international artists in a fantastic expression of the city’s creative spirit. This production will bring colour, creativity and joy out of the theatre and into the gardens at Paddington for everyone to enjoy,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.

The family-friendly performances are free and best suited to children aged 4 to 12 years old. They’ll be guided to the lower level of the gardens to experience the show. Parents and guardians can observe from the upper level of the gardens but can accompany young children if preferred.

Erth presents Soft Forest on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm until 20 September.

Check out What’s On for all the details.

Published 5 September 2025, updated 8 September 2025