A much-loved former Wiggles member is coming to the Sunshine Coast to perform.
Emma Watkins says audiences can expect everything that they know and love, with some fun new additions, on the Emma Memma Boop and Twirl Tour.
“There’s lots of music, lots of dancing and sign language,” Emma said.
“We’re actually bringing all of our Memma mates on the tour, including Elvin Melvin, the amazing Waffles the Wombat and BB Butterfly. It’s going to be a real fun one.”
Emma says she, along with the team, are looking forward to performing on the Sunshine Coast.
“We’re excited to get some warmer weather! Always coming up to north of Brissy is a treat, and it is a highlight for the cast,” Emma said.
“This is our second time on the Sunshine Coast as Emma Memma, but the first time for the Boop and Twirl Tour, so we’re looking forward to getting there very soon.”
Emma says her time in the Wiggles has shaped how she handles her Emma Memma persona.
“It was honestly the most amazing apprenticeship,” she said.
“I was there for 12 years so I am so incredibly fortunate to have learned so many skills, and travelled the world, and met families from all different walks of life, and I think that’s really impacted the way that I approach Emma Memma.”
Her Wiggles career also influenced her decision to incorporate sign language into the Emma Memma shows.
“When I was with the Wiggles I noticed so many families using visual communication with different breakdowns, whether the child was using sign language or just the parents or both the parents and the child or the guardian, or support workers,” Emma said.
“Having deaf friends, I had known about their experience and how little visual communication is incorporated into children’s media.
“I left the Wiggles to do my PhD to work out how to best integrate this, and what creative ways we can do it, and so Emma Memma was kind of born from that.
“Elvin in our Boop and Twirl Tour is profoundly deaf and he actually signs the whole show.
“We’re just so invested in being able to provide not just the children but their family networks with more skills surrounding visual communications.
“Ultimately we hope that families pick up little bits of sign language, but most of that is shown to them in a very entertaining way.
“We are not meant to be there giving them a lesson, and that’s important to remember. We really just want people to have a great time and enjoy themselves and get up and have a dance.”
Emma will also be releasing new music and videos shortly.
“Our audience really loves dance, and it’s a big part of what we do, so we’re excited to release some more YouTube videos really soon,” she said.
The Boop and Twirl Tour will be on September 17 at 10am and noon at Venue 114 in Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina.
“If people need wheelchair access or a quiet space or access close to our Auslan interpreter, there are seats available,” she said.
For tickets click here.
Kelsey Reid is a journalism intern with Sunshine Coast News.
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