A dinosaur puppet in a theatrical performance held two weeks ago at Beechworth’s Memorial Hall hooked local primary school youngsters.

Actors Jack Wilde and Felicia Lannan from Highwire – a circus, cabaret and family friendly entertainment organisation - brought science in a creative way to students from Prep to Year 4 in the session ‘The Dinosaur Time Machine'.

Students joined in from Beechworth Primary School, St Joseph’s and Montessori.

Organised by Regional Arts Victoria's as part of its creative learning program the actors gave students a fun and visual learning experience with lots of imagination to kids about the prehistoric creatures.

Felicia said kids loved dinosaurs with the educational program being engaging and fun.

“Instead of kids from smaller towns or small schools going to Melbourne or somewhere else to see Hirewire programs, we come to them,” she said.

Jack said the programs offered the chance for young people to be introduced to live theatre giving them options for later in life within the arts industry.

“I didn't start performing until I saw other people do it,” he said.

The performer also said students offer suggestions at the end of shows then the pair implement them into future performances.

“Kids are just so curious, and we want to talk about ourselves as actors, but also sometimes they have more questions about dinosaurs that they've thought of during the show," he said.

“We're not paleontologists but we do know a lot and we can answer those questions as well as we can tell them about our own experiences as actors.

“We notice there's a lot of kids with their hands up throughout the show.”

The duo said the show has been performed in every state around Australia except Tasmania, as well as both territories.

Indigo Shire Council’s Penelope McGufficke said council had driven and coordinated the learning program for schools.

Three different performances took place with the one in Beechworth, Rutherglen (Dr Hubble's Bubbles by a circus performer and a workshop) and Yackandandah (a drama performance with storytelling through movement).

Chiltern youngsters will be entertained in early September with a puppetry performance ‘Trash with a Porpoise’ wrapped around sustainability.

“The performances have been supported with a Regional Arts Victoria grant,” Penelope said.

Different programs are brought to students by various production companies through the RAV learning program.

Penelope said it is important for children growing up in regional areas to have access to professionally produced performances.

“It gives them an understanding of arts and culture and what it can bring to you as a person, but also just to see what they might like to do in the future," she said.

“It was exciting to hear the children be delighted and laugh and see them be so engaged with the popular subject of dinosaurs.”