Information for Schools and School Holiday Groups

PLANNING YOUR EXCURSION
How to Book
BOOK EARLY
We do our best to accommodate everyone, but tickets sell fast. Bookings are processed in the order in which they are received.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS ONLINE
Visit the appropriate event page on The Joan or The Gallery’s website.
Risk assessments and education support materials are available to download from each individual event page.
The Joan
Schools – Click Here to Book Now
School Holiday Groups – Click Here to Book Now
Penrith Regional Gallery
Schools – Click Here to Book Now
QUESTIONS
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us:
The Joan
E boxoffice@penrith.city (Ticketing Enquiries) or creativelearning@penrith.city (Program or Learning Enquiries)
P (02) 4723 7600
Penrith Regional Gallery
E gallery@penrith.city
P 02 4735 1100
We look forward to welcoming you to our venues!
Risk Assessment
The Joan
Click here to download The Joan’s 2024 Risk Assessment.
Penrith Regional Gallery
Click here to download The Gallery’s 2024 Risk Assessment.
Access
At Penrith Performing & Visual Arts (PP&VA), we are committed to providing inclusive, quality, arts education experiences for all audience members.
AUSLAN INTERPRETED EVENTS
Australian Sign Language (Auslan) interpreting is provided for select guided exhibition tours and Q&A events. This enables Deaf Auslan users to engage with the event using their first language.
RELAXED EVENTS
Relaxed events are designed to reduce anxiety and create a supportive atmosphere for patrons with autism spectrum conditions, intellectual impairment, learning disability and other sensory and communication needs. There is a relaxed attitude to theatre etiquette, such as noise and movement among the audience.
Modifications will differ depending on the event, but can include:
- The doors to the theatre being left open to allow audience members to enter and exit as needed; and
- Noise and movement and light and sound effects being toned down or removed.
Where possible, a Visual Story and/or Sensory Guide is available for patrons to download from our website prior to a relaxed event.
VISUAL STORIES
Using both words and pictures, a Visual Story (also known as a Social Story) introduces students to what they can expect during their visit to the theatre. They briefly tell the story of your journey from the start to the end of the event in a factual way, offering positive options to help with fears and triggers such as loud noises.
SENSORY GUIDES
A Sensory Guide provides teachers and students with a breakdown of sensory triggers throughout the event and when to expect them. These may include audience participation and interaction, changes in lighting and sound or specials effects such as haze.
OTHER REQUESTS
Upon request we may be able to provide accessible services other than those listed to help make your school groups visit more comfortable. Please let us know of any request you have on your booking form and we will do our best to arrange it.
The Joan
E boxoffice@penrith.city (Ticketing Enquiries) or creativelearning@penrith.city (Program or Learning Enquiries)
P (02) 4723 7600
Penrith Regional Gallery
E gallery@penrith.city
P 02 4735 1100
Educational Resources
Where possible, we provide additional resources to help you further connect your excursion to the curriculum and enable your students to achieve a greater level of engagement with the content covered. These may include:
CURRICULUM LINKS
Curriculum links have been developed to connect your excursion with the NSW State Syllabus. These assist you in choosing a show, exhibition or event that links to your lesson plans and supports your students in meeting their learning outcomes.
ONLINE MEDIA RESOURCES
Media resources may include videos, podcasts, image galleries and/or interactive web pages. They can provide students with further insight into the artists or cast and creative teams, as well as behind-the-scenes into the rehearsal process, curatorial decisions and development of the tour. You can access available media resources for each of our offerings from their individual event pages on The Joan and Penrith Regional Gallery’s websites.
Q&A SESSIONS
Q&A or In Conversation sessions allow school groups to gain a deeper understanding into the production, exhibition, or event. Held after the performance with the cast and/or creative team, or with the artist or artists in conjunction with an exhibition, they give your students the unique chance to ask all their burning questions. This helps your group to further comprehend the content they have experienced and to adapt the ideas discussed into their own arts practice.
TEACHERS RESOURCE KITS AND STUDY GUIDES
Teachers Resource Kits are designed to assist you in devising pre- and post-excursion lesson plans and activities that link directly to the curriculum. Study Guides are created to help students engage with the work through access to focus questions and extra information around the production or exhibition. Where available, these resources can be downloaded from the web page for each event on our websites.
WORKSHOPS
In-person or digital workshops led by arts professionals and/or teaching artists may be offered pre- or post-excursion as an extra or a standalone activity. Our workshops aim to build confidence and inspire by giving your students opportunities to explore, practise and adapt new skills and techniques and apply them to their arts practice inside and outside of the classroom
Getting Here, Parking and Bus Drop Off Zones
THE JOAN
The Joan is located at 597 High Street, Penrith and is accessible by train, bus, car and walking.
By Train
The closest train station to The Joan is Penrith Station, which is a mostly flat journey approximately seven hundred metres from the venue. Please visit transportnsw.info to plan your trip.
By Car or Bus
Follow the M4 from either the east or west and turn off at the Mulgoa Road exit. Head north following the signs to Penrith’s CBD. When you come to the major intersection at High Street and Mulgoa Road, turn right into High Street and then left at the roundabout.
Parking and Bus Drop Off Zones
Parking is available outdoors at Penrith City Council’s Civic Place Car Park, opposite The Joan. Time limits apply and are indicated on the signs.
School buses can drop off and pick up your group in the designated area at Penrith City Council’s Civic Place Car Park. Please note, there is no parking available for buses in this area. We recommend you advise the bus company or your school’s bus driver of this in advance, so they are prepared to find an alternate place to park after dropping you off, as well as organising a suitable time to pick you up.
Access to The Joan from the car park is level and wheelchair friendly.
PENRITH REGIONAL GALLERY
Penrith Regional Gallery is located at 86 River Road, Emu Plains and is accessible by train, bus, car and walking.
By Train
The closest train station to the Gallery is Emu Plains Station, which is a mostly flat journey approximately two kilometres from the venue. Please visit transportnsw.info to plan your trip.
By Car or Bus
Follow the M4 to Leonay Parade. Take the A44 exit at Russell Street, Emu Plains. At the roundabout take the first exit onto Leonay Parade. Turn left onto Buring Avenue, then left on River Road and continue to the Gallery.
Parking and Bus Drop Off Zones
Limited outdoor parking is available onsite and can be accessed via the driveway located on River Road at the southern corner of the site. This includes two accessible parking spaces. Alternatively, street parking is available along River Road. Time limits may apply.
School buses can drop off and collect your group at the main entry to the Gallery (near the black and white Gallery sign) on River Road. Please note, there is no parking available for buses in the onsite carpark. We recommend that you advise the bus company or your school’s bus driver that they will need to find a place to park along River Road and organise a time for them to pick you up in advance.
A Handy Guide to Theatre and the Gallery
Attending the theatre or the gallery is a magical and exciting experience for all ages. For some of your students, an excursion to The Joan or Penrith Regional Gallery may be their first time seeing live theatre or an art exhibition. To ensure you have a positive and memorable time, we have put together a ‘Handy Guide’ of tips to discuss with your students prior to attending a show.
A Handy Guide to Attending the Theatre
Click here to download a Word version of the Guide
Click here to download a PDF version of the Guide
A Handy Guide to Attending the Gallery
Click here to download a Word version of the Guide
Click here to download a PDF version of the Guide
INFORMATION FOR THE DAY OF YOUR EXCURSION
To ensure you have a hassle-free excursion, we will send an email to the teacher or teachers listed on your booking form prior to your visit, detailing important information about your visit, which may include changes to running times and audience information. Where possible, we will also include Curriculum Links, Teachers and Online Media Resources.
Events at The Joan

Arrival Times
We strongly recommend that your group arrives at least 30 minutes prior to the start time of the event.
We advise that you check the event web page to see if there is a lock out period before attending the theatre.
Latecomers will be admitted in a suitable break during the event, if possible. If you are running late, please call Box Office.
- More Info: Contact Box Office on 02 4723 7600

Check-In, Tickets and Seating
Seating for school performances is General Admission. Please have your group remain outside of our venue, while a teacher checks in at Box Office upon your arrival. Our Front of House staff will come and collect your group and escort you to your seats. If you have any specific access requirements for seating, please ensure you indicate this on your booking form.
If you are attending a general public performance, tickets will be sent to the organising teacher via email.
- More Info: Contact Box Office on 02 4723 7600

School Bags
The Joan encourages students to leave school bags at home or school as secure storage is not available.
In the event your students bring their bags, please check each student tucks their bag away safely underneath the seat they are allocated in the theatre.
- More Info: Contact Box Office on 02 4723 7600

Duration
Performance duration may vary due to the nature of live theatre. Please check the show pages on our website for the most up-to-date run time.
We recommend you allow additional time at the end of the performance for transport back to school. An email including an updated duration will be sent out to teachers prior to the event.
- More Info: Contact Box Office on 02 4723 7600
Events at The Gallery

Arrival Times
If you are running late for a workshop or tour, please call the Gallery on 02 4735 1100.
- More Info: Contact Reception on 02 4735 1100

Check-Ins and Tickets
Please have your group remain outside, while a teacher checks in at Reception, upon your arrival. Our friendly staff at Reception will be able to assist in directing you to the relevant Gallery or Workshop space on site.
Tickets will be provided for ticketed exhibitions, depending on COVID Safety restrictions.
- More Info: Contact Reception on 02 4735 1100

School Bags
We recommend that students leave their backpacks at home or school for safe-keeping, as there is limited secure storage available on site.
- More Info: Contact Reception on 02 4735 1100




