The cast for the world premiere of ‘Round The Twist The Musical’ is here – ahead of the show bursting into Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane this November.
The brand-new Australian musical, from Paul Hodge, will be directed by Simon Phillips. It brings to life the iconic, unforgettable characters and off-the-wall capers of the hit ‘90s TV show, ‘Round The Twist’, based on Paul Jennings’ short stories.
‘Round The Twist’ is set in an old lighthouse, where single dad Tony (Matt Hetherington) and his kids Pete (Hanlon Innocent), Linda (Charly Oakley), and Bronson (shared by Eddison Ai and Luka and Sebastian Sero) embark on a magical adventure to unravel a one-hundred-year-old mystery, and rewrite history.
“At the heart of ‘Round The Twist’ are the Twist children, aided and abetted by their schoolyard friends and foes,” Director Simon Phillips says. “Their intrepid adventures drive the madcap plot, giving us a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of the most exciting young musical theatre talent in our country, while a handful of much-loved theatrical luminaries struggle to exert parental control.”
“Despite how the world has changed since ‘Round The Twist’ first aired, Paul Jennings captured the whole experience of growing up so well, and this is why these characters and their escapades have endured.”
The despicable Gribble family is led by David James as Harold Gribble, and Tarita Bostman as the equally vile Matron Gribble, who try to take over the lighthouse for the Gribble-Aquaworld-Casino-Pizza-Parlour-Burger-Joint-Amusement-Park.
Nick Van Lits will try his lucky lips as Gribble Jnr, flanked by Tiger (Carla Beard) and Rabbit (Carlo Boumouglbay).
The Twists have allies in Tony’s muse Fay James (Liz Buchanan) and wise old neighbour Nell Rickards (Christen O’Leary), as well as stern principal Mr Snapper (Bryan Probets) the apple of Pete’s eye Fiona Richmond (Taylah Johns), and Laura Raineri and Alex Tye completing the screwball ensemble.
This musical adaptation of ‘Round The Twist’ will cover episodes from the first two seasons of the show, and even has Jennings’ blessing.
“If you sing ‘Have you ever, ever felt like this?’ to Aussies of a certain age, they will immediately sing you the rest of the famous theme tune from ‘Round The Twist’,” Writer of Book/Music/Lyrics Paul Hodge says. “The theme song is critically important to the musical as a touchstone throughout, and I’ve listened to a lot of contemporary Australian music to help create the musical language of the show.”
“Paul Jennings really understands the emotional, awkward and embarrassing parts of growing up and the TV show has a lot of heart, so it’s been very important to me to maintain that as well as all the strange things happening.
“It’s also a story about home, with the Twists living in a rather unusual home – a lighthouse – so I couldn’t be more thrilled for the show to premiere in my hometown, Brisbane.”
This world premiere is co-presented by Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Queensland Theatre.
‘Round The Twist The Musical’ plays Queensland Performing Arts Centre from 12 November.
