First published in 1963, storm boy gained a new following when it was released in a picture book version in 1974, with atmospheric illustrations by robert ingpen, and then as. This resource pack has been created for students and teachers who wish to find out more about gecko and our work. Life is meaningless when we refuse to look at the big picture, and that is exactly what storm boy wants us to see. Barking gecko theatre was premiere childrens theatre. Forty years later a team from perths barking gecko company and sydney theatre company followed thiele. Last year, the barking gecko audience was treated to another stage version of a beloved australian book, colin thieles storm boy, in partnership with. Barking gecko theatre company barking gecko ignites the imagination of children, young people and their families through extraordinary theatre. Like those two productions, jasper jones will not be a slavish adaptation, mulvany says. Playwright tom holloways version has a clear focus on younger audiences although thats not to say theres not plenty for adults to enjoy so it was a little. Barking gecko theatre keeps the focus on children by creating a work that will leave adults surreptitiously dabbing at eyes as the house lights rise, tapping into the core of hopes and dreams within each of us.
Colin thieles novel about a young boy who never goes to school and lives on a beach raising pelicans, contrasted with blazers of the children in the audience. Chesapeake family magazinelewis manages to respect northwest coast tradition, the mystery and beauty of its art and story, while giving it new life and manifest appeal. White pebbles define the shoreline and a rowboat filled with fishing gear leans on its side in front of a totemlike lookout tower. Gabrielle wangs novel for younger readers, a ghost in my suitcase puffin, has been adapted to a theatre production and will premiere at the playhouse arts centre melbourne from october 1821 as part of the melbourne international arts festival. I taught this unit 2 years ago and it was very popular. Based in melbourne, he is a director of drama and musicals for the stage as well as opera. Studio underground, state theatre centre wa 7 21 nov 2020 book now. Sheedy has had great success with stage adaptations of acclaimed australian books in his five years with barking gecko, most notably craig silveys jasper jones last year, colin thieles storm boy in 20 and tans the red tree in 2011. The late colin thiele, born in 1921 in south australia, wrote more than 100 books which often described life in rural australia, particularly the coorong region of coastal south australia.
Storm boy is a poignant coming of age tale, it hearkens to nature, mans place within it, familial relationships, growing up, resisting and accepting change, and embracing ones identity. For 30 years barking gecko theatre has created exquisite, awardwinning productions, with a history of innovation and excellence making it an indispensable asset to wa. Find books like storm boy from the worlds largest community of readers. The artistic director of perths barking gecko theatre company, which produces theatre for young people, sheedy said colin thieles 1964 novel made into an awardwinning 1976 film. I returned to the ambience entertainment office and told my producing partner michael boughen. Established in 1989, barking gecko theatre is western australias longest running professional theatre company dedicated to inspiring our audiences to imagine the world anew. Storm boy was even adapted recently for the stage in a highly successful collaboration between perths barking gecko theatre company and the sydney theatre company. The 1964 childrens book storm boy, written by colin thiele and illustrated by robert ingpen. The answers have come directly from artistic director amit lahav and members of the company. Barking gecko theatre company is a wa professional theatre company setup in 1991 to encourage a love of the theatre by young people and their families. Otis pavlovic with a pelican in the sydney theatre companybarking gecko theatre companys production of storm boy. The feathered hero of film classic storm boy is making his way to the sydney stage. Barking gecko theatre company and sydney theatre company come together to provide the perfect balance of fun, simplicity and beauty.
A pair of australian pelicans, just like from storm boy. Barking gecko theatre is a western australian professional theatre company established in perth in 1989, barking gecko theatre is western australias longest running professional theatre company dedicated to inspiring children and families to embrace a life full of curiosity, empathy and play. Theatre can do many things, but one of its greatest accomplishments is to remind us of the enormity and largesse of the universe, beyond our selfish daily concerns. A return season for a cherished childhood favourite. Barking gecko theatre company artistic director matt edgerton likes to tackle something that either scares or challenges him on each work he directs.
It was while searching a secondhand shop in port moresby for books that i found a real gem. His first short film mrs mccutcheon screened worldwide at over 140 festivals and won numerous awards. Bangarra dance theatre acrobat, dancer and actor michael. Bangarra dance theatre acrobat, dancer and actor michael smith is tumbling upwards. Hes also the author of storm boy, which was, of course, made into the indelible movie of 1976.
Under his direction, the company created several awardwinning productions including adaptations of the wellknown australian childrens books storm boy, jasper jones and the rabbits. As the lights dim to black, there is a crash of thunder and flashes of lightning as a storm hits the coorong. This muchloved classic of australian childrens literature and film is brought to theatrical life, in collaboration with perths barking gecko theatre company, on one of the main stages of the. Sydney theatre company barking gecko theatre company. The sydney theatre company and barking gecko theatre company have collaborated to present a new theatrical version colin thieles 1964 classic novel. Storm boy is the 8th in a series of classic australian childrens fiction literature units. John sheedy is an australian theatre director, born in geelong in 1972. When barking gecko theatre and sydney theatre companys stage adaptation of colin thieles beloved 1964 novella storm boy premiered two years ago, it was in front of an audience made up mainly of adults from the theatre world.
Barking gecko theatre brings gabrielle wangs a ghost in. It is important to sheedy to work on national collaborations 20 saw barking gecko collaborate with sydney theatre company on storm boy. Barking gecko theatre is western australias locally cherished, nationally significant company that creates and tours exquisitely crafted theatre for children and families. Playing at the subiaco arts centre from the 12 23 july and prendiville performing arts centre on the 27 august. He has been described as a director of bold vision both filmic and theatrical. Stage alliance gives storm boy wings the australian. The story is about 12yearold celeste, who arrives in china to scatter her mothers ashes, but is thrust into a world of magic and adventure.
He has categorically achieved this with the companys production my robot. Barking gecko theatres mission is to give children transformational experiences through. Barking gecko theatre have adapted gabrielle wangs novel a ghost in my suitcase for the stage in a production that places three daring women centre stage. State theatre centre of wa 178 william street perth wa 6000 08 6212 9399 email protected. A sydney theatre company and barking gecko theatre company production storm boy by colin thiele adapted for the stage by tom holloway. And barking gecko theatre company production storm boy by colin thiele adapted for the stage by tom holloway on cue. The rabbits, written by john marsden and illustrated by shaun tan, was first published in australia by lothian books and this opera is produced by arrangement with hachette australia pty ltd.
To adapt a muchloved 50yearold australian childrens literary classic is a bold enterprise, fraught with risks. Canberra celebrates life and work of childrens author. The barking gecko theatre company from western australia was staging the play in partnership with the sydney theatre company, recalled street. Barking gecko theatre company, and sydney theatre company in the stage adaptation of. Last year, the barking gecko audience was treated to another stage version of a beloved australian book, colin thieles storm boy, in partnership with the sydney theatre company, which two years ago brought kate grenvilles novel the secret river to the stage. The sydney theatre company performed tom holloways stage adaptation in 20 and 2015 in collaboration with perths barking gecko theatre company. He was educated at the national institute of dramatic art nida.
A runaway hit in 20, this collaboration with perths barking gecko theatre company is a vivid stage adaptation of colin thieles muchloved story. Jasper jones finds a home on stage the west australian. Colin thiele is the author of storm boy 1964, a short childrens novella about a south australian boy and the pelican that he rescues the boy, mike, is named storm boy. Given that barking geckos are housed at lower ambient air temperature anyway 80 to 84 degrees fahrenheit, there is no significant difference in the breeding habits of captive australian barking geckos in regard to cooling them or not. Stage alliance gives storm boy wings rory potter, 12, peter obrien and trevor jamieson, cast members of the new sydney theatre company production of storm boy, pictured in walsh bay.
Hi gabrielle, im the artistic director of barking gecko theatre company, based in perth, and im writing to enquire about the possibility of adapting a ghost in my suitcase for the stage. Storm boy comes to life on the sydney theatre stage. Several of his books have been made into films or television series, including sun on the stubble, the fire in the stone, blue fin and storm boy. The 20 production of colin thieles storm boy, adapted for the stage by tom holloway in a coproduction by sydney theatre company stc with perths barking gecko theatre company, returns by. And, unsurprisingly, a remake is also in the works. Storm boy is being presented as a coproduction by perths barking gecko theatre company and the sydney theatre company. The journey of a ghost in my suitcase from page to stage. A barking gecko theatre and opera australia coproduction in association with the west australian opera commissioned by perth festival and melbourne festival. School library journalstorm boy is an excellent childrens book and unquestionably deserving, if not begging, to sit on the shelf of every library in the nation. I tried to book tickets for myself and my eleven yearold son, but it was sold out. Storm boy illustrator robert ingpen on bringing colin. In 2015 michael is the scenic designer for the broadway production of the musical doctor zhivago and set designer for arms and the man with sydney theatre company. The questions have come from students and teachers. A huge whalebone curves eerily across the back of the set sheltering the humpy that is storm boys home.