AFTER bringing George Orwell’s novels Animal Farm and 1984 to life for the past two years, Brisbane-based theatre company shake & stir is now bringing Roald Dahl’s cheekiest tales to the stage.
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Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts has been billed as being perfect for those aged 5 to 105, and director Ross Balbuziente said it was exactly what audiences would get.
Mr Balbuziente said their reformation of Revolting Rhymes, published in 1982, and Dirty Beasts, published in 1983, took the familiar stories of Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks, and several unsuspecting animals and transformed them with surprising and hilarious results.
He said the two classics were lesser known compared with The BFG, Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and he wanted the books to get the attention they deserved.
“The best thing about Dahl was that he was unafraid to make things gory and disgusting,” Mr Balbuziente said.
“It’s still a family show. Anyone can go, whether they’re a child to a grandma.”
Given the books were two of Dahl’s first books, he said they were his favourites.
Four actors play 40 different roles throughout the evening.
“The whole new cast rediscovers the works in a rock’n’roll layout,” he said.
“The show is divided into rhymes that are five to seven minutes’ long in an artistic fashion.
“It’s always super fun given how crazy the world is and this is a dreamy drama that has it’s place in the theatre, but it is a treat to explore the beauty and cleverness of Dhal’s work.”
Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts will be performed at Orange Civic Theatre tomorrow from 6.30pm.
Tickets are available through Ticketek.
ashlea.pritchard@fairfaxmedia.com.au