Tim Bray Theatre Company presents The Magic Faraway Tree
By Enid Blyton and adapted for the stage by Tim Bray
For the first time, leading children’s theatre maker Tim Bray Theatre Company brings one of the world’s best-selling authors, Enid Blyton, to the stage in their adaption of The Magic Faraway Tree, playing 24 June – 15 July at The PumpHouse Theatre.
Don’t miss the fabulous, fantastical story of Jo, Bessie and Annie as they move to the country and discover a ginormous tree in the midst of an enchanted wood. Things get really strange when they climb it and discover magical people living there, like Silky, Moon-Face and the Saucepan Man.
At the very top, a ladder leads them to magical lands which are sometimes nice (like the Land of Presents), but sometimes not-so-nice (like the Roundabout Land and Rocking Land). Along the way, the children have some thrilling adventures!
This is the first time TBTC have adapted any of Enid Blyton’s beloved books for the stage, having previously adapted works by the likes of Roald Dahl, Margaret Mahy, Joy Cowley and Spike Milligan. Tim Bray QSM first started working on the script back in 2020 for a season later that year, but Covid meant the season was cancelled. Now the company are thrilled to finally bring it to the stage three years later. The Magic Faraway Tree is based on three books in The Enchanted Wood series, this wonderful show will enchant audiences from the first minute to the last.
Bringing these magical adventures to life are Raj Varma (D’Arranged Marriage, ANZ bank ads), Jacque Drew (The Power of the Dog, One of Us is Lying), Jaeden Lawrie (Tim Bray’s The Whale Rider, Te Pakkhai), Nikeidrian Peters (What We’re Made Of), Isabella Temm (Tim Bray’s The Santa Claus Show ‘22) and Jacinta Compton (Director of The Girl, The Lamb & The Man – Best First Time Director winner at the Berlin Indie Film Festival 2022). The cast is also joined by Unitec’s third year acting students as part of the partnership between the company and institute, working together to inspire the next generation of children and young people in the world of theatre. Unitec performers include Jacob Bainbridge, Shannon Freeman, Luke Orbell, Manunui Rainey, Gisele Proud and Aimee Aranha.
The production will also include a lively original musical score composed by Marshall Smith (aka Marshmellow), who has previously written songs for TBTC productions The Great White Man-Eating Shark and Other Stories, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and created the incidental music for The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch, The Santa Claus Show ‘22 and Badjelly the Witch. The many wondrous lands throughout the story have been expertly imagined for the stage by set designer Rachael Walker, costume designer Vicki Slow and lighting designer Steve Marshall.
Tim Bray Theatre Company is the first company in New Zealand to offer NZSL interpreted performances in 2004 and continues to be committed to making theatre accessible for all audiences to experience the art of live performance, with The Magic Faraway Tree including NZSL-interpreted, Audio Described and Sensory Relaxed performances throughout the season.
Join this mischievous and adventurous cast as they head out in search of adventure!
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