Our
Story
Hila Tells Stories is an interactive storytelling performance company for toddlers, pre-schools, and primary school children. Available all across the greater Melbourne area, and other areas of Victoria and Australia on request.
Our adaptations of multicultural classic children’s books into a range of interactive performances are designed to enrich children’s world of imagination with creativity and joy. Their interactive nature teaches young minds to think fast, develop confidence, and learn social skills through the magic of theatre.
Our performances strive to empower children, parents, and teachers alike to learn new emotional skills, work together, and follow their own curiosity through exposure to play.
Founder, Hila Ben Gera is a children’s storyteller and a professionally trained Theatre -Maker, (Actress, Director, and Playwright) since 2007. Hila's compassionate and enthusiastic approach to storytelling invites children to interact with the worlds of wonder she creates on stage.
Since its inception in Melbourne in 2023, Hila Tells Stories has established collaborative partnerships with esteemed libraries, schools, and organizations, including Lamm Library, Sydney Jewish Museum, Habayit Org, Shalom Org, PJ Library in NSW & Sydney, Public Libraries Victoria, Emanuel School, and Mount Scopus Memorial College. We have participated in the Melbourne Jewish Book Week, Glen Eira Storytelling Festival, and the Red Earth Arts Festival in Karratha.
We are part of The MC Showroom and Gasworks Arts Park theatre programs for school holidays and have led educational workshops on storytelling and how to create fascinating storytelling activities for children at the JPA Conference.
These collaborations underscore our commitment to fostering enriching experiences and promoting cultural engagement within the Melbourne community. We are enthusiastic about expanding our activities with additional and new partners in the future, as we continue to grow and thrive.
Meet Hila Ben Gera
Hila Ben Gera is a professionally trained Theatre Maker with a diverse background in acting, directing, storytelling, and playwriting.
She graduated from Yoram Levinstein's Performing Arts Institute in TLV and completed the Herbert Berghof Studio - Playwriting and Directing training in NYC. A Middle Eastern Jewish woman with cultural roots from Egypt, Morocco, and Hungary, her diverse artistic practice has led to original plays, theatre productions, and festivals in NYC, Israel, and Australia.
For almost a decade in NYC, she founded the Lama Theater Company, based at the Off-Broadway Kraine Theater with global projects in London, TLV, and Nicaragua, developing thought-provoking works. As a children's artist at ‘CBE’ and 'The 92nd Street Y,' she developed innovative programs.
Her play 'The Places You’ll Go' won the Adelaide Fringe Weekly Award and is currently running at Tmuna Theatre, TLV. 'Lonely People Are Always Up in the Middle of the Night' triumphed at La Mama in 2018.
In 2023, she relocated to Melbourne with her Aussie husband Timbo, and their superhero son, Noam. She founded 'Hila Tells Stories,' an interactive theatre company for children. Collaborating with various partnerships with esteemed libraries, schools, and organizations, her journey continues as a curious exploration, using theatre to pose essential questions and enrich the imaginations and emotional worlds of children with creativity.
Meet Ruby Rees
Ruby is a female-identifying multi-disciplinary artist based between Sydney &melbourne.
she undertook intensive acting, playwriting and directing training at the world-renowned herbert berghof studio in new york city.
She earned her professional writing and editing degree at rmit university, Melbourne.
Ruby was the youngest recipient of the National st martin’s playwriting award in 2010 for her first play serpents.
She completed a residency at the Manhattan repertory theatre company in 2016.
She was commissioned by the company to write and direct an original work for their 10th anniversary season. upon her return to Australia, Ruby directed a series of plays for independent Melbourne companies including Simon Stephens’ punk rock at renowned Melbourne theatre fortyfivedownstairs, which saw a sold-out season and rave reviews.
While at Nida, Ruby expanded her practice to include theatre-making, devising, and the adaptation of new works.
Ruby is currently directing all Hila Tells Stories performances.
