GPAC’s Love Central Geelong Family Magic Program returns in 2016 with four fantastic family productions based on popular children’s stories.
The fun kicks off in March with The 52-Storey Treehouse, a play by Richard Tulloch, adapted from the best-selling book by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton.
This production follows the huge success of The 26-Storey Treehouse and 13-Storey Treehouse.
Andy and Terry’s treehouse is now 52 storeys high, with yet more fantastic inventions: a rocket-powered carrot launcher, the disguise-o-matic 5000 and even a ninja snail training academy!
Today is a special day. It’s Andy’s birthday, but Terry has forgotten! To make matters worse Mr Big Nose has mysteriously disappeared, and to top it all off Jill has fallen into a deep sleep and they just can’t wake her up.
So Andy and Terry set off on a crazy adventure tackling a world of startling obstacles including a hungry caterpillar, an angry vegetable kingdom, and a 100-year ninja-snail epic voyage.
Will they solve the mysteries and survive the dangers that test even their ingenuity?
This crazy, imaginative and engaging play is perfect for children aged 6-12 and their adults.
In June, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre will bring to life The Little Prince for a new generation. This exquisite production has been adapted by Simon Clarke from the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
With its timeless message about the importance of friendship, The Little Prince is an adventure story that celebrates the richness of human feeling and imagination.
One of the most widely read books in history – 140 million copies sold worldwide and printed in more than 250 languages and dialects including braille – it tells the story of a curious prince who leaves his tiny home planet and journeys across the universe, discovering that adults have very strange ideas about the things that really matter.
Children will be drawn in to the tiny, magical world of the Prince, the Sahara Desert and the stars of the night sky. Hand-carved puppets of the Fox, the Snake, the Little Prince and the Rose, are characters sure to live on in the audience’s imagination.
At 50 minutes and suitable for ages four and above, The Little Prince is a special experience for families to share.
Then in July, it’s a special school holiday production of HIPPO! HIPPO! A BIG NEW Musical Adventure!
HIPPO! HIPPO! A BIG NEW Musical Adventure! is based on the phenomenally successful children’s classic, There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake, written by Australian children’s author Hazel Edwards and illustrated by Deborah Niland.
Hippo is the imaginary friend of Girl, a young child. Girl believes that Hippo lives on the roof and can seemingly do anything he wants, when he wants, how he wants, particularly the things that Girl is unable or not allowed to do. Through Hippo, Girl is able to allay her fears and gain confidence in her early childhood years.
Joyful and brimming with childhood wonder, HIPPO! HIPPO! A BIG NEW Musical Adventure! will make you laugh and maybe even make you cry, but most of all, it is guaranteed to lift your spirits in a BIG and UNBEATABLE way! This production is perfect for children aged 5-10 and their families.
The final Family Magic production in 2016 will be the September school holiday presentation, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.
Adapted from a series of books by May Gibbs, this new stage adaptation will spark the imagination and sense of adventure in 5 to 10-year-olds and their families as they experience the timeless charm of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.
The Gumnut babies are on a mission to see a human – but only in the distance! On their journey to the big city they meet friends and foes including Professor Kookaburra, Mrs Fantail, Mr Lizard, Mr Frog, Mrs Snake, Mr Possum and, of course, Little Ragged Blossom.
Can Snugglepot lead the way? Can Cuddlepie hold his nerve? Can they avoid falling victim to the Big Bad Banksia Man?
These much-loved characters come to life on stage as this funny and charming new production introduces today’s children to the wonderful world of May Gibbs.
Tickets for all Family Magic performances are $20 each or $18 for groups of four-plus (available from Box Office only). For performance dates, times and bookings, go to www.gpac.org.au
