THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE Coming to Arts Centre Melbourne's Playhouse

Acclaimed children's author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler's tale of The Snail and the Whale is coming to Arts Centre Melbourne's Playhouse stage from 29 June - 10 July. The production is the work of UK company Tall Stories, creators of the Gruffalo and Room on the Broom stage shows.

Their latest collaboration follows a tiny snail who longs to see the world, so she hitches a lift on the tail of a humpback whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, experiencing sharks and penguins, icebergs and volcanoes. But when the gigantic mammal gets beached, how will the tiny snail save the day?

Tall Stories' adaptation was inspired by the work of Storybook Soldiers, who help British military personnel based overseas record bedtime stories on to CDs for their children back home. The amazing journey of the tiny snail is seen through the eyes of a very adventurous young girl who would love to be travelling the world with her seafaring father.

Performed in the company's unique physical style of storytelling, live music and humour, it is a lively theatrical experience for everyone aged 4 and up. It features a British cast and all music and sound effects are created live on stage by an electric viola with an effects pedal. The book, published in 2003, is a modern classic, winning the 2004 Early Years, 2005 Blue Peter and 2007 Giverny awards.

"Probably my favourite of all the books I have written for Axel Scheffler to illustrate.' Julia Donaldson said.

Julia Donaldson is a prize-winning author of some of the world's best-loved children's books and was the 2011-2013 Children's Laureate. Her picture books include Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo, which has sold more than 13.5 million copies worldwide.

Axel Scheffler is the best-selling, award-winning illustrator of many of the world's favourite picture books including The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Pip and Posy, The Room on the Broom and Zog.

Tall Stories was founded in 1997 by joint artistic directors Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell, who have co-created all the company's shows since then. The Snail and the Whale has toured France, UK, Canada, US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Bermuda.

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