Magical Children’s Stories on Stage In Auckland

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Magical Children’s Stories on Stage In Auckland For School Holidays

Two brilliant tales from one of the world’s leading storytellers, Hans Christian Andersen come to life on stage in July in Takapuna, Auckland.

Tim Bray Productions presents The Emperor’s New Clothes and The Ugly Duckling at The PumpHouse, Takapuna from 6-18 July with a special gala opening on Saturday 4 July. A season for schools and pre-schools will run from Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July. The Mazda Foundation has funded 380 tickets for low decile school children to attend the shows for free.

The show brings together two of the best known stories by Hans Christian Andersen – the hilarity of the pompous Emperor who gets swindled by his own pride and foolishness and the beautiful poignancy of the ugly duckling who is born into the wrong family, rejected and lost and eventually finds acceptance among her own kind.

Tim Bray Productions first staged the two stories in 2005 to mark the 200th anniversary of the writer’s birth. “We’re looking forward to bringing these wonderful stories back to the stage,” im Bray says.

Adapted for the stage by Tim Bray, the plays are directed by Amanda Rees and star Donogh Rees, Li-Ming Hu, Lori Dungey, Sam Berkely and Dane Dawson with original songs by Christine White and plenty of audience interaction.

Children are encouraged to come dressed up and can also enter their work into an art exhibition held in the PumpHouse Theatre foyer.

The Emperor’s New Clothes and The Ugly Duckling is the second in a series of professional children’s theatre productions presented by Tim Bray Productions in 2009. September will feature the adaptation of Joy Cowley’s book Snake and Lizard, and December will feature the return of the ever-popular The Santa Claus Show.

The Emperor’s New Clothes and The Ugly Duckling is at The PumpHouse, Killarney Park, Takapuna, Auckland from 6-18 July at 10.30am and 1.00pm with a Gala Opening on Saturday 4 July at 7.00pm. No shows on Sundays and children are encouraged to dress up according to the themes of the shows. To book, phone (09) 489-8360 or online at www.pumphouse.co.nz.

ENDS