What’s On: Storm Boy (Queensland Theatre)

Storm Boy 

July 29 – August 17, 2019

Playhouse, QPAC

A Melbourne Theatre Company co-production in association with Dead Puppet Society

Auslan Interpreted Mon 5 Aug 2019, 6.30pm
Audio Described Thu 15 Aug 2019, 7.30pm + Sat 17 Aug 2019, 2pm
Relaxed Performance Sat 10 Aug 2019, 2pm

Young Storm Boy lives a simple yet free life on the coastal wilds of the South Australian Coorong, combing the beaches with his reclusive father, Hideaway Tom. During a long summer, he makes two friends who will shepherd him from childhood into adulthood: the jester Fingerbone Bill, who teaches him about his country; and Mr Percival, an orphaned pelican who prepares Storm Boy for the wider world with a poignant lesson about love, loss, and letting go.

This landmark new production of Colin Thiele’s cherished yet bittersweet coming-of-age story, adapted for the stage by Tom Holloway, brings together the creative forces behind Jasper Jones and The Wider Earth. It will touch the hearts of young and old with its masterful puppetry and boundless imagination, directed by Queensland Theatre AD Sam Strong with David Morton as Associate Director/Puppet Designer.

“Storm Boy has captured the hearts and  imaginations of generations of Australians, in print and on screen, and now we get to bring it to life on stage,” said Strong. “It is a cherished Australian story because it so movingly charts the journey from childhood to adulthood, speaking with equal poignancy to children and adults. Tom Holloway has lovingly translated the original novel for the stage and created a beautiful story of life, loss and mending what’s broken.”

Tom Holloway’s adaptation will star Ellen Bailey (Harrow), John Batchelor (Underbelly: Razor), Tony Briggs (Black is the New White), Emily Burton (Single Asian Female), Drew Wilson (Alice in Wonderland) and newcomer Conor Lowe. The six actors will share the stage with a cast of 28 extraordinary puppets, meticulously created by Dead Puppet Society; six full-sized pelicans, three infant pelicans and three pelican chicks as well as a tiger snake, five fairy penguins, five mackerel and five crayfish. Each adult pelican has more than 1,200 pieces, and all are deigned to mimic the actions and characteristics of the animal they represent.  

For ticketing and further information, visit the Queensland Theatre website.