October 4, 2006

PLAYSTORY
‘MAGIC IN THE AIR’

Downstage Theatre Bar
Saturdays at 11am 21 October – 16 December
Tickets: $8 Door sales only
www.downstage.co.nz

What child has not sometimes wished, while turning the pages of a book, that the characters could leap from the pictures and come alive? Now that wish is to be granted – with PLAYSTORY – a new exciting experience in theatre for young children aged between four and eight years.

Our first season – ‘MAGIC IN THE AIR’ – presents an assortment of stories from old favourites to new adventures. As the tale unfolds the performers jump from character to character, keeping the action – and the magic – alive. Favourite stories come alive on stage!

PLAYSTORY is a concept dreamed up by veteran children’s theatre director Sarah Delahunty. "We bring a story to life, show real characters performing but retain the element of storytelling, the feeling of one person spinning tales for you, all to be found inside the world of a book. It is a combination of two very important childhood experiences – live theatre and being read to – and ones that not so many children get a lot of in a world of television, DVD and computer. Recent research in Australia has shown that young children who see live performances are notably more literate and also kinder to others."

Although PLAYSTORY is a new venture, those involved are all well known favourite performers for Wellington children. Brian Gibb, Estelle Clifford and Heidi North have all performed regularly in children’s theatre over the past seven years, particularly with I Spy Children’s Theatre and Kidzstuff Children’s Theatre. They have played a huge variety of characters from frogs and princesses to cows, foxes, penguins and Humpty Dumpty – often changing many times within the same show.

So every Saturday morning at 11 am from 21 Oct – 16 Dec at Downstage Theatre, the first season of PLAYSTORY will offer a collection of stories from the realm of magic, woven together with music and song. Magic beans, magic puddings and magic eggs are all part of the recipe!