MONKEY BAA THEATRE Darling Harbour has Kids Rolling in the Aisle ~’The Bugalugs Bum Thief’

Monkey Baa Theatre has its own theatre in the heart of Darling Harbour, Sydney!!!!!

It was goregous, arriving with the lights sparkling, the harbour dotted with boats, street performers juggling balls, families, young people, old people, everyone enjoying a glorious autumn day in Darling Harbour.

Lend lease Darling Quarter Theatre is such a commitment to Sydney and Australia – offering a beautiful theatre venue to our kids and families to see the best in youth theatre by Monkey Baa Theatre – www.monkeybaa.com.au

As a preview, I was in the family and friends performance to the 1st show ever performed at this theatre – ‘Tim Winton’s ‘The Bugalugs Bum Thief’ .

The kids were rolling in the aisles as the 3 boys went on a mad romp to find their stolen bums. The rollicking songs, the choreography tapping through stage and into the audience, kids and parents were in stitches.

It’s wonderful to see the best in theatrical direction, performance, stage craft …. used in theatre for young people.

Go and see it. Take your kids, your parents, grandparents get along there – it’s a romp.

 

 

As an Author Ambassador for the National Year of Year – Spreading the Word – www.love2read.org

Libraries, libraries, libraries – you’ve got to LOVE them.

They’re spreading the reading message and as an ambassador for The National Year of Reading, I’m speaking at writers’ festivals, book launches, libraries, schools, bookshops.

Is it fantastic? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

 

 

 

Here’s a snapshot of my May tours for The National Year of Reading  - www.love2read.org

4-6th May ~ Keynote at the Gloucester Writers festival –  www.gloucesterwritersfestival.com

6th May – Launch at Gloucester Festival  of   ‘Alien Shores’ an anthology of refugees narratives that reach into struggles, humour, life of finding home with authors including speaking Sharon Rundle and Andrew Kwong. I’ll be speaking about my story.

17th -18th May -Coff’s Harbour region speaking at schools and the Catholic Diocese of Lismore in Northern NSW Teacher-Librarian Conference

20th May – Melbourne for the launch of Alien Shores by the Human Rights QC Julian Burnside with authors, Arnold Zable, Sharon Rundle, Professor Meenakshi Bharat, Susanne Gervay at 6 p.m. Readings Bookstore Carlton. http://www.readings.com.au/review/alien-shores-by-sharon-rundle-meenakshi-bharat-eds

22nd May – Launching Alien Shores in Sydney at The Hughenden Hotel with authors Linda Jailin, Sophie Masson, Sharon Rundle, Rosie Scott with the Consul General of India www.thehughenden.com.au

23rd May- Randwick Library in Sydney for Simultaneous Reading Time where ambassadors will read to parents and littlies across Australia – can’t wait, it’s going to be gorgeous!  http://www.alia.org.au/nss/

24-May – Taree Library speaking about ‘Always Jack’ for the Biggest Morning Tea in support of the Cancer Council at Taree Library brought up by the Australian Library and Information Association

25th May -Halliday’s Point Library on North Coast NSW

28th May – speaking at 10 am in Warringah Library in Sydney’s Northern Beaches about my first picture book ‘Ships in the Field’.

29th May – Teacher Librarian Conference at Maroubra Junction Public School Sydney

That’s my MAY spreading the National Year of Reading Celebration of Books!

Love you to come along and chat to me, or log onto the www.lovetoread.org website and join in to the many activities around Australia.

I proudly support partners of the National Year of Reading as an:-

author ambassador for Room to Read,

Role Model for Books in Homes,

Chair of the Board of the NSW Writers Centre,

co head of Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators at The Hughenden.

 

‘War is not brave, but men can be brave in war & in life.’ ~ ANZAC DAY ~ Time for Reflection

So many young people are joining the Anzac Services at dawn.

War is always frightening and the last resort.

My father was a prisoner of war. I grew up when so many young men were conscripted for the Vietnam War. The world is always at war and our young people serve and sacrifice.

As a mother, daughter, author, I search to understand true leadership and male courage.

It was a personal revelation when I wrote:-

‘War is not brave, but men can be brave in war and in life.’

(From ‘The Cave’ page 141)

Darling Quarter Theatre~new home of Monkey Baa w-Tim McGarry,Eva di Cesare & Sandra Eldridge

The Darling Quarter Theatre, opening on May 5, is part of Lend Lease’s new development at Darling Harbour, which includes two eight-storey office towers for the Commonwealth Bank and a giant children’s playground.

The theatre is the only purpose-built performance space for children in Australia and the first major addition to Sydney’s arts infrastructure since Carriageworks, which opened in Redfern in 2007.

The Sydney lord mayor, Clover Moore, said Monkey Baa was one of Australia’s flagship theatre companies and would be a great addition to Sydney’s cultural life.

Monkey Baa is planning four productions this year and hopes to attract 15,000 children and their families to the shows.

The Bugalugs Bum Thief opens on May 5.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/monkey-business-aims-to-put-bums-on-harbourside-seats-20120417-1x5ne.html#ixzz1sOTOtPSw

Patrons of Monkey Baa Theatre – Jackie French, Morris Gleitzman and Susanne Gervay

Join SCBWI Australia & New Zealand Conference blog 29th June-2nd July 2012!

Writers and illustrators from around Australia and New Zealand are coming together with great Australian publishers and

NSW Writers Centre

Copyright Agency Limited CAL

SCBWI leadership

to celebrate the vibrant children’s book industry  in all its delivery ways – from print, illustration, picture books, e-books ….

SCBWI Conference blogspot has been launched today – see what’s happening.

http://scbwiaustnzconferenceblog2012.blogspot.com.au/

 

supporting Room to Read and National Year of Reading