Australian youth theatre company, Monkey Baa, has once again brought Possum Magic to life. Beloved and treasured, Possum Magic has been enchanting Australians for over 40 years.
Following the tale of a young Australian possum named Hush, and her grandmother, Grandma Poss, the pair practice bush magic and make Hush invisible. Exciting as this may be, Hush soon wishes to see herself again and therein begins their journey of travelling Australia to make Hush visible.
With a simple but effective production vision, Monkey Baa authentically captures the story of Possum Magic for our youngsters.
‘It’s tremendously exciting to bring one of Australia’s most loved iconic stories to the stage,’ says Director Sandra Eldridge. ‘We really wanted to highlight how important it is for young people to find their own voice and visibility, and for those who are older to encourage and support their journey because it leads us somewhere new too.’
Possum Magic employs puppetry, shadow play, projector animation, and mystical sound design. Production designer Emma Vine, Composer and Sound Designer Nate Edmondson, and Magic and Illusion Designer Adam Mada were able to remain faithful to the source material.
As with the production team, the intimate cast were invaluable for the success of the show. With Ebony Tucker as Hush, and Sarah Woods as Grandma Poss, the acting is excitable and energetic, keeping the audience of young children engaged and able to follow the turns of the story. Actors Will Bartolo and Josh Virgona play multiple roles throughout the show, from predatory snakes to magically blue wombats. Their versatility transformed the production and is a testament to their skill.
‘Back in 1978, when I wrote a children’s story as a university assignment, I’d have died of joy if I’d known it would eventually become Possum Magic… now a play!’ says Possum Magic Author, Mem Fox. ‘Although I’m as old as Grandma Poss, I’m as excited as a child.’
For more information, visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com/kids-families/possum-magic
