AustLit

'There was once a small boy called Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge and his house was next door to an old people’s home. He knew all the people who lived there, but his favourite person of all was Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. When Wilfrid finds out that Nancy has lost her memory, he sets out to find out what a memory is…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Grandma Poss loves making magic. She makes wombats blue and kookaburras pink. She makes dingoes smile and emus shrink. But one day, when danger arrives in the form of a snake, Grandma uses her most magical spell to make Hush invisible. Hush has many wonderful adventures. But being invisible isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…'

Source: Merrigong Theatre Company.

'Josephine is a kangaroo – who loves to dance. Her little brother, Joey, tells her that kangaroos don’t dance, they hop – but Josephine continues to point her toes and leap through the air.

'When a ballet troupe comes to the sleepy town of Shaggy Gully Josephine learns that there is another way to dance – ballet. As the Ballet company prepared to perform, Josephine snuck into town and peered through the window as the dancers rehearsed. She watched the dancers for hours and hours, then she went home and practiced at night… all alone. She spun, she swirled and pirouetted dreams… and at the end she always curtsied. She desperately wanted to dance like the ballerinas in pink tutus and silk ballet shoes.

'On the day of the first performance the Ballet Company was in trouble. The prima ballerina twisted her ankle. The understudy had a splinter in her toe.

'Who could dance the lead role? Who else could leap that high?

'Josephine’s talents are called upon to help save the day. Can she do it, and more importantly, does it matter that she’s a kangaroo?'

Source: Monkey Baa.

'Monkey Baa Theatre Company brings the children’s version of Li Cunxin’s iconic autobiography, Mao’s Last Dancer to the stage in this extraordinary production.

'Li, a 10-year old peasant boy is plucked from his village in rural China and sent to a ballet academy in the big city. He leaves everything and everyone he loves, including his family. Over years of gruelling training, this boy transforms from an impoverished peasant to a giant of the international dance scene. Li’s courage, resilience and unwavering hope for a better life makes The Peasant Prince a story to ignite our own aspirations to be the best person we can be. Audiences will be captivated by this very personal story, truly a 20th century fairy tale.' (Production summary)

'Charlie’s life changed a lot when his father was deployed to Afghanistan, but it changed even more when he returned with the scars of war. Charlie is sent to live with his Aunt Angela, who’s quiet country life is no contest for the action and adventure that lives inside his video games.

'Angela is what some would consider a collector, or to others a hoarder. But amongst the sea of knick-knacks and bric-a-brac, there is a treasure trove of priceless letters that are set to take these two unlikely allies on a life-changing journey.

'Moving seamlessly between the journey of a 13-year-old in contemporary Australia and a 16-year-old on The Western Front in 1916, this beautiful play from Sandra Eldridge is an uplifting exploration of how we carry our past into our present.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Adapted from a series of books by May Gibbs, by arrangement with The Northcott Society and Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

'Snugglepot & Cuddlepie are on a mission to see a human – but only in the distance! Join your favourite gumnut babies on their journey through the magical Australian bush to the big city. Along the way you’ll meet friends and foes including Professor Kookaburra, Mrs Fantail, Mr Lizard, Mr Frog, Mrs Snake, Mr Possum and, of course, Little Ragged Blossom.

'Will Snugglepot lead the way? Can Cuddlepie hold his nerve? Can they avoid falling victim to the Big Bad Banksia Man?

This heartwarming theatrical delight is filled with laughter, mischief and fun for the whole family.' (Production summary)

'Pete the Sheep is a brand-new 50-minute musical, based on Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s quirky and quintessentially Australian picture book.

'Shaun is the new sheep shearer in Shaggy Gully. Since shearing is such hard work, all the other shearers have sheep dogs to help them, but not Shaun. His partner is Pete, a sheep-sheep! The other shearers in the shed are not happy with Shaun and his sheep-sheep.

'Following rejection by the shearers and their dogs, Shaun and Pete set up their own Shearing Salon in town where they are inundated with woolly clients, who delight in Shaun’s styling prowess.

'This hilarious musical comedy, imaginatively told by four performers playing shearers, dogs and sheep, explores the challenges and rewards of being an individual, and will be a lasting tribute to honouring your own spirit and strength, whilst working with the flock!' (Source: http://monkeybaa.com.au/show/pete-the-sheep-world-premiere/ )

An adaptation of Elizabeth Fensham's novel about an adolescent girl struggling with schizophrenia and an unhealthy relationship with her brother.

'Thursday's Child is Tin, born on a Thursday and like the old nursery rhyme, has far to go. A strange and lonely child who digs, his wanderings take him underneath the earth into the subterranean tunnels that he's pre-destined to roam. Told by his sister Harper Flute, it is a story of an Australian farming family's strength as they battle their way through the great depression of the 1930's. A surreal and epic piece of theatre that explores the themes of memory, fate, family camaraderie and the spirit of determination in a time of great change.'

Source: Monkey Baa.

'"I Am Jack" explores the journey of Jack, a smart, funny 11-year-old boy being badly bullied at school. This true story takes us on a touching and sometimes comical journey as Jack moves from victim to victor...

'Using the metaphor of an island in the central design concept, Jack tells his story from what at first appears to be the confines of his bedroom. As he tells his tale, lighting and sound emphasise Jack's emotional turmoil and create the shape and persona of the bully in his life.'

Source: Monkey Baa's website, http://monkeybaa.com.au/
Sighted: 28/05/2009

'Did Hitler's daughter, Heidi, really exist? Four country children waiting in the rain for the school bus take turns telling stories. In an unusual twist, Anna's story takes the children to Nazi Germany. An intriguing tale about Heidi, a young girl caught in the turmoil of World War II, whose father was one of the most dreaded men in history.

'One of the children, Mark, becomes engrossed in Heidi's story. In his conversations with his friends, his teacher and with his parents, he explores the moral and ethical issues it raises.

'This intriguing play poses powerful questions about a frightening period in history and forces us to examine moral issues in relation to society's fears and prejudices in a fresh, compelling light.'

Source: Monkey Baa Theatre for Children website, http://www.monkeybaa.com.au/
Sighted: 07/08/2007

'Worry Warts tells the story of 11 year old Keith Shipley and his attempts to cheer up his "misery guts" parents.

'Keith paints his parents' car "hot sunflower and tropical parrot" to cheer them up. Then he discovers what's really making his parents miserable - their lack of money. So Keith decides to take matters into his own hands.

'With the help of his best friend Tracy, Keith learns that there's money to be made out in the opal fields in central Australia. Keith runs away to make a fortune for his parents. Along the way he meets a colourful cast of characters. One of them, Curly, from the General Store, strikes a deal with Keith; Curly will give him use of his opal mine for 24 hours if Keith paints Curly's store. Keith is desperate to find opals, so with Tracy following him, together they go down Curly's mine.

'In the darkened gloom of the dangerous opal mine Keith finally understands that there is only so much he can do about his parents' happiness and that sometimes change is inevitable.'

Source: Monkey Baa's website, http://monkeybaa.com.au/worry-warts.html
Sighted: 28/05/2009