Melbourne Theatre Company Stages THE BOOK OF EVERYTHING, Now thru Dec 22

After wowing New York audiences with this enchanting family tale about facing your fears and finding happiness, director Neil Armfield's acclaimed production of The Book of Everything is staged in Melbourne for the first time.

A Christmas treat for all the family, Guus Kuijer's classic book, adapted by Richard Tulloch, stars Matthew Whittet and opens tonight 29 November, 7pm at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner.

This play won Best Production for Children in the 2010 Sydney Theatre Awards. Funny and deeply touching, The Book of Everything will move you like no other.

It is 1951 and nine year old Thomas Klopper sees things most people can't; a hailstorm of hopping frogs, tropical fish swimming in the Amsterdam canals and even Jesus himself. He keeps note of all the special things he sees in his magical book, The Book of Everything.

Thomas writes all things - good and bad - in his book. His one great wish is to be happy when he grows up. But when he sees the unhappiness in his family, and the pain in his father long after the war has finished, he wonders if his greatest wish will ever come true. Still, he fervently hopes it will.

Awarded the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Prize in 2012 for his contribution to children's literature, Guus Kuijer is a renowned Dutch author best known for his Madelief series of children's books. In The Book of Everything, Kuijer tells a story inspired by growing up in Amsterdam as it emerged from the trauma of German occupation in World War II.

Adapter Richard Tulloch is a highly respected author of children's books, plays and television. Renowned for writing 150 episodes of the much loved television show, Bananas in Pyjamas, Tulloch's plays include Year 9 are Animals, Stella and the Moon Man and stage adaptations of Hating Alison Ashley, The Happy Prince and Unbeatable! Tulloch won Green Room Awards for Best Presentation for Children and Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production for his play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Fish which was inspired by the books of Eric Carle.

Neil Armfield's outstanding career credits span stage and film. He has won twelve Green Room Awards, four Sydney Critics' Circle Awards and seven Helpmann Awards, all for Best Director. For 15 years he was Belvoir's Artistic Director, relinquishing his role in 2010. He has directed for every state theatre company in Australia and this year he directs Opera Australia's highly anticipated Melbourne Ring cycle. In 2007 Neil Armfield was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his Service to the Arts.

Cast: Alison Bell (Margot), Peter Carroll (Father Klopper/Bumbiter), Andrea Demetriades (Eliza), Julie Forsyth (Mrs Van Amersfoort), Iain Grandage (Musician), Claire Jones (Mother Klopper), John Leary (Jesus), Genevieve Picot (Auntie Pie), and Matthew Whittet (Thomas Klopper).

Creative team: Director Neil Armfield; Assistant Director Eamon Flack; Set & Costume Designer Kim Carpenter; Composer Iain Grandage; Lighting Designer Nigel Levings; Sound Designer Stephen Francis; and Choreographer Julia Cotton.

Venue: Southbank Theatre, The Sumner
Season dates: 27 November to 22 December 2013 Opening night: Friday 29 November 2013 at 7pm
Tickets: from $58, under 30s just $33
Booking Details: Southbank Theatre Box Office 03 8688 0800 or mtc.com.au
Twitter: #mtcBook or follow @MelbTheatreCo

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