Matt Hewson
Geelong Arts Centre’s (GAC) Wonder Children’s Festival returns for the second time this month, with an adaptation of an iconic Australian children’s book as the curtain raiser.
Jolyon James’ Imagine Live will launch Geelong’s premier children’s festival, bringing Alison Lester’s best selling book to life in three 60-minute interactive musical performances for the whole family from September 12 to 14.
Lester’s Imagine, first published in 1989, takes children and their parents on an exploration of a variety of natural environments and the creatures that live there.
Having gone through two years of development, the live production features seven classical works by composer Nate Gilkes intended to capture the essence of the natural world as portrayed in the book.
Lester said she was “very excited” about seeing the show when it premiered in Geelong on the opening night of Wonder Children’s Festival.
“Jolyon got in touch with me a couple of years ago and he and the team came here to Nar Nar Goon North to spend a day just talking about what they had in mind and what I would like,” she said.
“I thought it was really lovely that they consulted me, but the show is very much theirs.
“I think Jolyon loved the book as a kid and maybe his children loved it too, and that’s how it came about. He said he really loved the way the book left so much up to the child… it’s really a vehicle for the child to go off in their imagination.”
The festival also presents performances from Lemony S Puppet Theatre, The Teeny Tiny Stevies, a stage adaptation of children’s tale The Gruffalo and acrobatic spectacular I Wish.
Wonder Children’s Festival runs from September 12 to 26. Visit geelongartscentre.org.au/whats-on/wonder-childrens-festival for tickets and more information.
