Artists in Public Places

The Playful Plate

A pop up restaurant with nothing to eat

‘The Playful Plate’ is an outdoor performance installation presented as a restaurant with no food. Visitors are invited to enter a small, illuminated dining space where two performers guide them through a short, interactive experience centred on memory, imagination and human connection.
Rather than serving meals, the work “serves” stories, laughter and shared presence.

A live, touring performance installation

“The Playful Plate is exactly what outdoor community areas need more of! It was so playful & creative, brought to vivid life by the wonderful performers.

Bravo to the team & kudos to Central Coast Council for hosting a necessary socially engaging event to our community.”

– Dianne Bustil, audience member

Watch the video online

Temporary, immersive public art that creates:
– Social connection
– Community cohesion
– Shared storytelling
– Play and reflection

This live performance installation is tour ready for your community, festival or event.

Background

The project draws on the original French meaning of restaurer (“to restore”) to explore nourishment beyond the physical. Blending ritual, audience participation and playful theatricality, the work invites visitors to reconnect with one another in a gentle, humorous and unexpected setting.

First presented across multiple public sites on the
Central Coast, NSW Australia in December 2025.

Created with support from Creative Art Central, Central Coast Council and private donors via the Australian Cultural Fund.

Now available for touring.

For curious people of all ages.

For more info email ali[at]artistsinpublicplaces.com.au

FAQs

What happens inside ‘The Playful Plate’?

Using the familiar structure of dining at a restaurant, audiences are welcomed by a waiter who is also a theatrical clown. Audiences are offered a seat at the table where they meet the head chef, also a clown, and have the opportunity to interact with each other, guided by a set menu.

The experience has been described as surprising, delightful, touching and a lot of fun.

How many people does it cater for?

Up to 8 people can be welcomed in a sitting, which can last from 15-30 minutes.

The installation is a durational piece of theatre, opening for 3-6 hours at a time, and is best suited to dusk hours.

Where can it ‘pop up’?

The experience can pop up indoors or outdoors, on any kind of surface or floor.

It is best suited to a location with some pedestrian traffic, where people are at leisure. Think of the experience as something to be discovered on a hidden laneway, around a corner, or in a park at dusk.

What are the physical specifications of the installation?

The footprint of the installation is 5 metres x 5 metres, with a height of 2.2 metres.

Transported in a single high-ace van, it contains its own self powered lighting and sound system.

Bump-in/install is completed by 3 ground staff.

When the performance is live, there are 2 artists and 1 site manager/host

How much does it cost?

We are happy to chat through pricing for the experience, which depends on the unique circumstances of your event.

For an accurate quote we need to know how many hours and days of performance you require, and the proposed location, including whether overnight security and monitoring is available.

Artist/producer Ali Gordon is based in Wollongong, and artist/producer Alicia Gonzalez is based on the NSW Central Coast.

Please call Ali Gordon 0404~616~405 or email ali[at]artistsinpublicplaces.com.au for more information

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