By Rose Vechoorettu and Mikayla van Loon
A current exhibition at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum offers the community a chance of “indulging in nonsense”, states founder of Playful Thinking Daniel Teitelbaum.
The playful and interactive exhibit about famous opera singer Dame Nellie Melba, titled A Toast to Melba, introduces the hidden, fun-loving personality of the world-renowned star, encouraging visitors to take on her secret to success: play.
At the beginning of May, Daniel will lead a guided tour of the exhibit drawing on Melba’s own sense of silliness and ability to have fun.
Daniel’s studies in the philosophy of play have led him to design his upcoming tour to develop playful mindsets in visitors, taking them through four steps of playful thinking, overcoming the biggest obstacle in their busy lives – lack of rest – and indulging in creative nonsense.
“Nellie Melba understood the importance of rest. Her home was very much a sanctuary. The rest of the world was the stage,” Daniel said.
Daniel shared his road to discovering and sharing the power of play, including his studies in the School of Life, reading, and the founding of his company, Playful Thinking, in 2018.
“Every aspect of human interaction can be understood through a lens of play”, he stated.
Hoping to let others experience the “obvious and hardcore” benefits of play, Daniel presents Dame Nellie Melba as a “role model” who was aware of the need for rest, self-expression, curiosity, and nonsense.
Quoting author of Play, Stuart Brown, who found “the more play you get, the more successful you are” Daniel shared his desire to help adults rediscover and experience the benefits of play through Melba’s example.
“Any study that’s looked at any angle of how playfulness has been included into adult lives, we see an increase in cognitive function, whether it’s perception, memory, logic, problem solving, spatial awareness,” he said.
“You can develop… communication skills, strategy skills, problem solving skills, it’s the best way to learn.“
The exhibit offers adults a unique chance to “make noise”, “do nothing” and escape from the stress of day-to-day life.
“If you’ve got that playful friend who needs a reminder of [their] wonderful playful side, then bring that person along,” Daniel said.
The guided tour, the Power of Play, will be held on Thursday 1 May and requires bookings to attend.
Visit: yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/The-Power-of-Play-A-Guided-Exhibition-Tour-with-Playful-Thinking to book your spot
