THE GIANT WORM SHOW at Sydney Fringe

Once upon a time in 1974, a tiny town called Korumburra faced perilous decline until a local teacher decided to capitalise on what they had bigger and better than anywhere else - a giant worm.

The world's largest earthworm is three metres long and can only be found in Gippsland, Victoria.

One hundred metres of pink material, a golf buggy and a roll of poly pipe later, Karmai the giant pink worm puppet was born! Manipulated by school children, this blind, deaf and boneless folk hero took the world by storm!

THE GIANT WORM SHOW!: A true story of Melita Rowston's search for a lost Aussie legend plays The Sydney Fringe at Old 505 Theatre 6-10 September, 2016

Karmai spawned a giant worm festival, celebrity Worm Kings (Daryl Somers, Shirley Strachan), a children's book, and most importantly - Karmai saved a town. Then Karmai disappeared...Rowston's latest Shit Tourism Talk is part TED talk, comic-monologue and 70s variety show.

Now Melita Rowston goes on a mission to find Karmai and its elusive creator. She worm-watches in muddy paddocks, gate crashes a giant concrete worm and meets TV celebrities and quirky locals who were touched by the worm. Sometimes when we seek magic in our lives, we need to look no further than our own backyard.

This is a classic Australian story of an underdog built on a 'beg, borrow, beg' budget that became too successful for its own good...

"Did I think it was weird being asked to be Worm King?" Daryl Somers (Worm King, 1982) tells Melita. "At the time I'd been talking to an Ostrich for 11 years so it was completely natural for me."

Melita Rowston is an acclaimed writer, director, performer and 2016 STC PatRick White Award finalist. Recent credits: Writer/Director: LJUBI?ICA - Wild Violet, (Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Winner BEST MUSIC, Sydney Fringe) Director: New Theatre, Why Torture is Wrong and The People Who Love Them, New Theatre, Why Torture is Wrong and The People Who Love Them, New Theatre, MilkMilkLemonade. Writer: New Theatre, Crushed. Writer/Performer: 6 Degrees of Ned Kelly.

Rave reviews for 6 Degrees of Ned Kelly (Adelaide, Melbourne & Sydney Fringe):

"A wonderfully constructed exploration of two family myths presented with lightness and humour." BroadwayWorld

Adelaide Theatre Guide..."She makes you want to have a Kelly connection so you can share the joy of the myth with her."

Australian Stage..."Lively, entertaining and thought-provoking." Theatre People..."Rowston is a fine raconteur."

Adelaide Advertiser... "A spellbinding hour."

Lisa Thatcher..."Engaging, funny, tender and outrageously, candidly, wonderfully human." Syke on Stage.

MELITA ROWSTON'S SHIT TOURISM PRESENTS

VENUE: Old 505 Theatre @ 5 ELIZA ST, Newtowntime I'd been talking to an Ostrich for 11

THE GIANT WORM SHOW!

DATES: 6-10 September, 2016

TIME: 8pm (60 min)

melitarowston.com

TICKETS: sydneyfringe.com

Full: $24 / Concession: $16

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