Enchanting tale in the fringe

Asmida Aslan, Ada Williams Kriegler, and Mrs Puffs. (Phil Erbacher)

Lemony S Puppet Theatre is set to captivate audiences with its innovative production ‘Ada, Asmin & The Analytical Engine’ running for two exclusive performances at Bowery Theatre in St Albans as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

This enchanting tale intertwines the life of Ada Lovelace, the pioneering Victorian mathematician, with the struggles of Asmin, a newly-arrived Turkish refugee navigating remote learning during challenging times.

The story unfolds as Asmin encounters a magical cat named Mrs Puff, who guides her through the wonders of cyberspace to connect with Ada across time.

This unique collaboration, featuring young performers Ada Williams Kriegler as Ada Lovelace and Asmida Aslan as Asmin, explores vital themes of education rights for girls and the empowering shifts that occur when young women pursue their dreams.

Drawing from real-life experiences, the narrative sheds light on the challenges faced by girls denied an education worldwide, with significant input from Asmida and her family.

The production also incorporates mathematics crafted by Asmida’s father, Deniz Aslan, reflecting real-world academic struggles.

In addition to the stage performance, a companion documentary titled ‘Purple Violets’ further pushes these themes, showcasing a girls’ soccer team in Eastern Turkey and the ongoing struggles for gender equality in education.

Audiences aged seven and above can catch the show at the Bowery Theatre in St Albans this weekend.

It will run on Saturday, October 12 from 3pm to 4pm, and Sunday, October 13 from 11am to 12pm.

Tickets: melbournefringe.com.au/event/ada-asmin-the-analytical-engine/

Gerald Lynch