ArtistDirect News
Ellis and the Night Orchestra: Library-Based Opera Addresses Childhood Sleep Issues
When dusk settles, a child’s mind can become a labyrinth of sounds. Ellis and the Night Orchestra turns that night into a symphony of stories, offering a free, intimate opera that will tour Queensland libraries during the 2026/27 school holidays.
The production will debut in The Corner, a playful learning space at the State Library of Queensland, where live music, storytelling and imagination combine to help children explore sound, emotion and creativity while tackling the sleep struggles that affect almost half of Australian children.
The idea began with Associate Professor Tim Munro of Griffith University’s Queensland Conservatorium and his wife, writer/director Julie Ritchey. Munro said his own son’s bedtime difficulties inspired the project. He convened 15 young people to discuss their fears, delights and challenges at bedtime, then worked with three performers to translate those ideas into music.
Four musicians—violin, flute, percussion and an actor/singer—bring the story to life. The cast includes Griffith acting alum Mia Lierich. The narrative follows a child named Ellis who is too scared to sleep. As he closes his eyes, he hears strange sounds, some frightening. Over the course of the night, Ellis befriends the sounds, becomes the conductor of his own night orchestra and turns his fears into music.
Clinical psychologist Professor Caroline Donovan, creator of the Lights Out program for child sleep problems, said the show offers a creative way for children and parents to discuss sleep. Donovan noted that 38 percent of Australian children experience sleep problems and 14 percent have moderate to severe issues. She added that insufficient sleep can affect physical health, mental health, social interaction, school performance and parental well‑being.
The Lights Out program is a six‑session, parent‑focused cognitive‑behaviour therapy group. It targets behavioural sleep problems such as difficulty falling asleep, bedtime opposition and staying asleep without parental help. The program was developed by Griffith University researchers and funded by Rotary Health.
Ellis and the Night Orchestra will run free at the State Library of Queensland on Saturday, 27 June 2026, and then tour other libraries across Queensland during school holidays. Planned stops include Toowoomba, Warwick, Townsville, Cairns and Mackay. The show is designed for small audiences, using minimal sets and portable lighting to create a magical theatre experience for young viewers.
The production responds to the growing awareness of child sleep issues in Australia. Recent surveys show that 42 percent of children aged 5‑17 have sleep pattern problems, with 45 percent of primary‑school‑aged children affected. While 84.1 percent of children aged 5‑17 meet the recommended sleep hours, a significant portion still reports insufficient sleep or poor sleep quality.
By combining music, narrative and interactive performance, Ellis and the Night Orchestra offers a novel, accessible platform for children to confront bedtime fears and for parents to engage in conversations about sleep. The free, touring format ensures that the message reaches a broad audience across Queensland’s library network.
The State Library of Queensland and Griffith University hope that the show will help children feel seen and heard, while encouraging adults to better understand their children’s thoughts and feelings about sleep.
The production will debut in The Corner, a playful learning space at the State Library of Queensland, where live music, storytelling and imagination combine to help children explore sound, emotion and creativity while tackling the sleep struggles that affect almost half of Australian children.
The idea began with Associate Professor Tim Munro of Griffith University’s Queensland Conservatorium and his wife, writer/director Julie Ritchey. Munro said his own son’s bedtime difficulties inspired the project. He convened 15 young people to discuss their fears, delights and challenges at bedtime, then worked with three performers to translate those ideas into music.
Four musicians—violin, flute, percussion and an actor/singer—bring the story to life. The cast includes Griffith acting alum Mia Lierich. The narrative follows a child named Ellis who is too scared to sleep. As he closes his eyes, he hears strange sounds, some frightening. Over the course of the night, Ellis befriends the sounds, becomes the conductor of his own night orchestra and turns his fears into music.
Clinical psychologist Professor Caroline Donovan, creator of the Lights Out program for child sleep problems, said the show offers a creative way for children and parents to discuss sleep. Donovan noted that 38 percent of Australian children experience sleep problems and 14 percent have moderate to severe issues. She added that insufficient sleep can affect physical health, mental health, social interaction, school performance and parental well‑being.
The Lights Out program is a six‑session, parent‑focused cognitive‑behaviour therapy group. It targets behavioural sleep problems such as difficulty falling asleep, bedtime opposition and staying asleep without parental help. The program was developed by Griffith University researchers and funded by Rotary Health.
Ellis and the Night Orchestra will run free at the State Library of Queensland on Saturday, 27 June 2026, and then tour other libraries across Queensland during school holidays. Planned stops include Toowoomba, Warwick, Townsville, Cairns and Mackay. The show is designed for small audiences, using minimal sets and portable lighting to create a magical theatre experience for young viewers.
The production responds to the growing awareness of child sleep issues in Australia. Recent surveys show that 42 percent of children aged 5‑17 have sleep pattern problems, with 45 percent of primary‑school‑aged children affected. While 84.1 percent of children aged 5‑17 meet the recommended sleep hours, a significant portion still reports insufficient sleep or poor sleep quality.
By combining music, narrative and interactive performance, Ellis and the Night Orchestra offers a novel, accessible platform for children to confront bedtime fears and for parents to engage in conversations about sleep. The free, touring format ensures that the message reaches a broad audience across Queensland’s library network.
The State Library of Queensland and Griffith University hope that the show will help children feel seen and heard, while encouraging adults to better understand their children’s thoughts and feelings about sleep.