Climb aboard the world’s juiciest fruit as Roald Dahl’s James and The Giant Peach rolls off the page and onto the stage in Shake & Stir’s most delicious adventure yet.

From the company that brought us the smash-hit, adored seasons of The Twits, Fantastic Mr Fox and George’s Marvellous Medicine comes this bold new theatrical adaptation of one of the most loved children’s classic books.

Join James and his collection of curious critters on an enchanting, great escape direct from his backyard, soaring high across the world, from Dover to New York and back again.

Bursting with magic, mischief, and mayhem at every turn, James discovers that the best friendships arise from the most unexpected encounters and a little courage can take you a long way.

You’ve read the book and seen the movie – now it’s time to experience this Dahlicious tale – from the wacky mind of the world’s No. 1 Storyteller – live on stage.

James and the Giant Peach
30 March – 7 April 2024
Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane
www.qpac.com.au

Hollywood’s favourite man/boy Timothée Chalamet does fine in the lead role and even though he has no real vocal range, doesn’t embarrass himself by singing. The character’s ability to create chocolate and magic out of thin air is a bit overused and this makes for a very unchallenging film experience. Its strength is in its charm.

The technical elements of the film are stellar as the costumes and set design look fabulous as does the colour palette used. Olivia Colman chews up every scene she’s in as the deplorable Mrs. Scrubbit. Her crazy is well matched by the performance of Tom Davis as her henchman Bleacher. Calah Lane is also first-rate in the female lead role Noodle.

With its elements so finely tuned, Wonka is a sugar rush of a film. It is easily digestible and should endear itself to those who crave uncomplicated and accessible cinema. It contains so little reference to the current state of world events, it is therapeutic to just spend time in its universe.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosAU/

Tragically, their lives are turned upside down by the devastating death of their daughter Olivia and as the couple struggle through the unimaginable loss, their shared grief becomes a source of redemption and strength which changes their lives forever.

Set between New York, England and Los Angeles, chronicles Dahl’s struggles while writing some of his most famous works and Neal’s return to acting and winning an Oscar.

To Olivia will be released in Aussie cinemas May 19!
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As the boy and his grandmother encounter some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, she wisely whisks our young hero away to an opulent seaside resort.

Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world’s Grand High Witch has gathered her fellow cronies from around the globe undercover to carry out her nefarious plans.

The Witches will be released in Australian cinemas December 10!
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Following a smash-hit, sold out season in 2019, Dahl’s much-loved Fox leaps off the page (and all around the stage) in this mind-blowing, visually-stunning production.

No one outfoxes a fox, especially not the horrible and greedy farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean – one fat, one short, one lean.

When Mr Fox needs to save his family and friends, he’ll go to any length (above or underground) to outwit the mean humans. Join Mr Fox and his team of furry friends as they bounce, burrow and bewilder their way to safety. Packed with Dahlicious mischief, hilarious mayhem, and humongous belly laughs, Fantastic Mr Fox is the perfect holiday tail for the whole clan.

You’ve read the book and seen the movie – now chase your tail all the way to the theatre and experience this critically-acclaimed stage adaptation from the wacky mind of the world’s No. 1 Storyteller first hand. You won’t believe your eyes.

Fantastic Mr Fox
9 to 18 January 2020
Playhouse, QPAC – Brisbane
www.qpac.com.au

Willy Wonka is opening his marvellous and mysterious chocolate factory to a lucky few. That includes Charlie Bucket, whose bland life is about to sweeten with colour and confection beyond his wildest dreams. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerising joyride through a world of pure imagination.

Now’s your chance to experience the wonders of Wonka! Get ready for the Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, costumes and sets and more, more, more at this everlasting showstopper!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane
From March 20, 2020
www.qpac.com.au

Think you know the stories of the Three Little Pigs, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Goldilocks or Jack and the Beanstalk? Think again!

Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts bursts off the page in a spectacular live show that takes the world’s best-loved fairy tales and rearranges them with surprising and hilarious twists.

Frighteningly funny and seriously silly, Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts is the perfect family entertainment for children five to 105.

It will delight and disgust in equal measures. Don’t miss the return of this multi-Helpmann Award nominated production penned by the world’s number one storyteller and from the team that brought you George’s Marvellous Medicine.

Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts
24-28 July 2019
La Boite Theatre, Brisbane
www.laboite.com.au

Reimagining Dahl’s beloved story for a modern audience, Zemeckis’s visually innovative “The Witches” tells the darkly humorous and heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy (Bruno) who, in late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma (Spencer) in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. The boy and his grandmother come across some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, so Grandma wisely whisks our young hero away to an opulent seaside resort. Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world’s Grand High Witch (Hathaway) has gathered her fellow cronies from around the globe—undercover—to carry out her nefarious plans.

The screenplay is by Guillermo Del Toro and Robert Zemeckis & Kenya Barris (upcoming “Shaft”), based on the book by Roald Dahl. Zemeckis also produces, alongside Jack Rapke, Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron and Luke Kelly. Serving as executive producers on the film are Michael Siegel, Gideon Simeloff, Marianne Jenkins and Jackie Levine.

Zemeckis’s behind-the-scenes team includes a roster of his frequent collaborators, including Oscar-nominated director of photography Don Burgess (“Forrest Gump”), production designer Gary Freeman, Editor Jeremiah O’Driscoll, and Oscar-nominated costume designer Joanna Johnston (“Allied,” “Lincoln”).

An Image Movers Production, a Necropia/Experanto Filmoj Production, “The Witches” is filming at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in the UK. It is currently scheduled for theatrical release on October 15, 2020 in Australia and New Zealand and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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My only experience of a ‘BFG’ was the BFG9000, a weapon found in the Doom and Quake video games using an acronym that implied words that ought not be uttered by a child. Given Roald Dahl’s twisted mind, I would be unsurprised to learn that he was well aware of this possible interpretation when he released his book about a ‘Big Friendly Giant’ in 1982.

An animated TV version of The BFG was released in the late 80’s but this time around Steven Spielberg has turned his acumen to a live action version starring the remarkable Ruby Barnhill as orphan child, Sophie, who befriends the ‘BFG’, a motion captured computer generated Mark Rylance.

Given his sterling performance in Bridge of Spies, Rylance appears to be becoming a male muse, of sorts, to Spielberg and understandably so. His performance in The BFG is as measured and understated as Spielberg’s prior spy biopic. Newcomer, Ruby Barnhill, is also a revelation, displaying a manner of non-precocious confidence and sass rarely found in a child actor.

Spielberg has produced a film that, while set in the early eighties, drips with Dickensian charm. It’s an old-fashioned kind of movie that is rarely made these days. Its soft, warm, studio-shot look comforts the viewer and harks of family movies made in the 60’s and 70’s. It’s a gentle reprieve from the harsh reality penchant of modern cinema.

The detail in the CGI giants is very very good. The close ups of skin tones and textures is amazing. Equally amazing is that, as good as the CGI is, it still looks like CGI. While we would consider this CGI to be ‘photographic’, it’s clear we still have some way to go before it is truly photographic. This is neither here nor there as it relates to the story, however. When the chips are down, story matters, CGI doesn’t. But nonetheless, the computer imagery here is cutting edge.

The BFG is worthwhile entertainment and not just for kids. Adults and children alike will be swept away by this Spielberg/Dahl fantasy that is cute, charming and contains one of the best fart jokes in recent memory.

Stuart Jamieson
www.movies.disney.com.au/the-bfg

A spectacular live show combining two of his most famous and best-loved rhyming storybooks was heralded in 2014’s was heralded as “playful and exciting” (Stage Whispers), “terrific and twisted” (Australian Stage Online) and “a treat for mums, dads and the littlies” (The Courier-Mail). A visual feast that combines a rocking soundtrack, immersive visual design, dance, shadow puppetry bringing over 40 characters to life for audiences aged 5 to 105!

This return season at La Boite is amidst a national tour which will see shake & stir travel to over 25 venues across X states. Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts takes the familiar stories of Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks, and several unsuspecting animals, and transforms them with surprising and hilarious results. If you think they all live happily ever after – think again!

Directed by shake & stir’s Ross Balbuziente, and starring Leon Cain, Judy Hainsworth, Nelle Lee and Nick Skubij, Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts is the perfect family entertainment this July school holidays.

Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts
4 – 11 July 2015
La Boite Roundhouse Theatre
www.laboite.com.au