EDINBURGH THEATRE COMPANY TAKE HIT SHOW

HAIRY MACLARY & FRIENDS TO SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

 December 2011 – January 2012

Edinburgh theatre company, Nonsense Room Productions is taking its highly successful children’s show Hairy Maclary & Friends to Sydney Opera House in December for a five week run over Christmas. The show, which has delighted families in Scotland and throughout the UK, has been picked to play at the Opera House as a hit of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011.

Out of the gate and off for a walk, went Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy

Bruce Strachan, Artistic Director of Nonsense Room Productions says: “We are thrilled to be touring Hairy Maclary to Sydney Opera House. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to perform at one of the world’s most iconic venues. We are excited about taking the little dog with the big personality to meet new audiences on the other side of the world.”

Hairy Maclary & Friends is an official stage adaptation of the much-loved Hairy Maclary children’s books by celebrated writer Lynley Dodd, presenting an assortment of animal antics for all the family. Audiences in Sydney can look forward to meeting many of their favourite characters such as Hercules Morse, as big as a horse; Bottomley Potts, covered in spots; Schnitzel von Krumm, with the very low tum and Scarface Claw, the toughest tomcat in town.

The show premiered in Scotland in 2010 with a sold-out run at the Fringe. In 2011 the show toured to venues throughout the UK including three weeks at Assembly George Square Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011 and a week at Riverside Studios, London.

We will be touring the UK again during 2012. This smash-hit show, featuring live music, singing and your favourite Hairy Maclary books is a summertime treat suitable for all the family – you’d be barking mad to miss it!!

Fans of the storybooks cannot fail to enjoy this performance and every child should see this. One4Review *****

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/hairy_maclary.aspx

Nonsense Room Productions was established in 2002 by Bruce Strachan and Simon Beattie, RSAMD graduates. In 2005 the company was chosen as ‘Pick of the Fringe’ by Greenwich Theatre, London. Previous shows at the Edinburgh Fringe have included The Ballad of James II by Douglas Maxwell, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and The Apprentice.   This year the company also presented Handling Bach by Paul Barz at Rosslyn Chapel.

Lynley Dodd is an internationally celebrated writer for children from New Zealand. Her titles, including Hairy Maclary, are highly regarded and much loved by her readers locally and internationally. Her stories are known for their lively sound qualities, curious animal characters, and the memorable illustrations that accompany the text. Dodd has received numerous awards, both for her writing and illustration. In 2002 she was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to children’s literature.

with James Bryce, Simon Tait and Andrew Dalmeyer
Aug 4-12 and 14-19. 7.30pm. Aug 13,20 7.15pm
Tickets available from the Nonsenseroom website or the fringe office…

‘Out of the gate and off for a walk, went Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy.’

Anyone with young children will recognise these immortal words instantly as the opening lines of the book ‘Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy’ by Lynley Dodd.  Following a Sell-Out run at the Fringe 2010, Hairy Maclary and his friends are springing off the page once again this Summer.

Featuring many of the characters from the books like Hercules Morse, as big as a Horse – Bottomley Potts, covered in spots – Schnitzel von Krumm, with the very low tum and Scarface Claw – the toughest tomcat in town.    With music, singing and several of your favourite Hairy Maclary stories, this show is a must for the whole family.

**** THE LIST: – ‘This is old-school children’s theatre in all the right ways.’

MUMS.NET:- “…Hairy Maclary was fab, my nearly 3 year old practically levitated in excitement…”

THE HERALD: -  ‘… so numerous and vociferous was the audience that sometimes the performers were drowned out…they were, however, able to keep the kids in stitches, no matter the volume…’

PRIMARY TIMES: - …a vibrant, fun filled show that cleverly brings Lynley Dodd’s much-loved children’s books to life.’

The film is showing at Bo’ness Hippodrome on Thursday 24th Feb at 7:30pm.

Info for the Film and the event:  http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/events/event.asp?eid=157&did=422

Tickets will be available soon – watch this space!! 

• The Apprentice at Rosslyn Chapel and;
• Hairy Maclary and Friends at Assembly on George Street.

This introductory podcast from the company gives a brief insight into the development of the show, a snippet of one of the songs from Hairy Maclary and a weekly update from rehearsals.

Tuesday saw another Hairy Maclary development day and as well as Coffee and a Cast birthday cake, we got loads of good work done on the structure.

Today saw another singing rehearsal for Hairy Maclary and although I’m biased I have to say it’s sounding fantastic already and we’ve only done a couple of sessions.

Promises to be a great summer!

Bruce

We are particularly pleased to be returning to Rosslyn Chapel – the inspiration and setting for the dramatic events surrounding the carving of the famous Apprentice Pillar.

‘A Dream inspired him to carve the Pillar, his master ordered him not to.  The powerful and moving story of the choices a young man must make to fulfil his destiny…’

This year with extensive restoration work finished, you will be able to experience the Chapel and grounds without a steel scaffold cover and with much internal restoration completed.

This will be our fourth production of The Apprentice and it has sold out on every previous occasion so book early!

Ideal for pre-school children but fun for all the family, the show will debut at the renowned Assembly Rooms on George Street from 5-31 August 2010.

Check back here for further details and booking information or add your name and email (on the right of this page) to stay up to date.