The Gruffalo Returns To New Zealand For 23 Centre Tour

THE GRUFFALO RETURNS TO NEW ZEALAND FOR 23 CENTRE TOUR

“exudes charm, fun and a winning simplicity” – Dominion Post
The West End production of the monster hit children’s tale The Gruffalo returns to New Zealand in 2011 for an extensive national tour from Invercargill to Kerikeri.

Whether their favourite food is roasted fox, owl ice cream, scrambled snake or Gruffalo crumble, audiences eat up this delectable tale about the adventures of a clever little mouse in a forest full of predators.

The Gruffalo opens at the Wellington Opera House on Tuesday 17 May for a three day season, before heading to Upper Hutt, Blenheim, Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton, Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. In August and September The Gruffalo will tour to Auckland, Whangarei, Kerikeri, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Napier and Palmerston North.

London’s Tall Stories Theatre Company have toured in Britain, Europe, America and beyond with this transformation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved story and the show has been an even bigger hit in Australia, with sold-out seasons and a prestigious 2009 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Production for Children.

Adapted from the Gold Award-winning children's book, The Gruffalo follows Mouse into the deep dark wood on a lunchtime hunt for hazelnuts. Armed with just a nut map and a very vivid imagination, Mouse runs into the smirking, wheeler-dealer Fox; an eccentric, retired Woodland Air Force General Owl; and the maraca-shaking, party animal Snake.

Rather than becoming the main course of their next meal, Mouse kills their appetites with stories of an imaginary monster friend. Little does this clever critter know but Mouse will have to escape the jaws of this faux protector as well.

In a production that has become the toast of London’s West End, Tall Stories vibrantly reinvents this delightful tale through its signature style of bold, multifaceted storytelling.

This triumphant trio of performers fill the forest with colourful characters and toe tapping, sing-along songs capturing the magic of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s adored modern classic

“The cast of three bring the story to wonderful life ... an irresistibly charming tale told with refreshing simplicity” – The Times (London)
"funny, charming and smart... brings the house down" – Sydney Morning Herald
“This whimsical, imaginative show is pitched at just the right level ... clever storytelling ... enchanting characterisation ... a rare treat that really is for all the family” – The Scotsman
The Gruffalo is at the Wellington Opera House from 17-19 May, Upper Hutt’s Expressions Art and Entertainment Centre on 21 May, Blenheim’s Marlborough Civic Theatre on 23 May, Nelson’s Theatre Royal on 24 May, CBS Arena, Christchurch (in intimate mode) on 27 May, Timaru’s Theatre Royal on 29 May, Ashburton’s Trust Event Centre on 30 May, Oamaru’s Opera House on 1 June, Dunedin’s Kings and Queens Performing Arts Centre from 2-5 June, Queenstown Entertainment Centre on 12 June and Invercargill’s Civic Theatre on 13 June.

For bookings or more information visit www.gruffalo.co.nz

ENDS

2011 NEW ZEALAND TOUR
The Gruffalo visits Wellington and the South Island in May –June, and then returns to the North Island in August – September.

WELLINGTON: Opera House | 17-19 May | Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
UPPER HUTT: Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre | Saturday 21 May | Book at Ticketdirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
BLENHEIM: Marlborough Civic Theatre | Monday 23 May | Book at Ticketdirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
NELSON: Theatre Royal | Tuesday 24 May | Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
CHRISTCHURCH: CBS Canterbury Arena (intimate mode)| Friday 27 May | Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
TIMARU: Theatre Royal | Sunday 29 May | Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
ASHBURTON: Ashburton Trust Event Centre | Monday 30 May | Book at Ticketdirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
OAMARU: Oamaru Opera House | Wednesday 1 June | Book at Ticketdirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
DUNEDIN: King's & Queen's Performing Arts Centre | 3 – 5 June | Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
QUEENSTOWN: Queenstown Entertainment Centre | Sunday 12 June | Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
INVERCARGILL: Civic Theatre | Monday 13 June | Book at Ticketdirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz

North Island Tour – tickets on sale soon!
AUCKLAND (North Shore): Bruce Mason Centre | 13 – 16 August | Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 or www.ticketmaster.co.nz
WHANGAREI: Forum North | Wednesday 17 August | Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
KERIKERI: The Centre at Kerikeri | Thursday 18 August | Book at www.centakeri.com or phone (09) 407 0260
AUCKLAND (Glen Eden): Glen Eden Playhouse | 20 – 22 August | Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 or www.ticketmaster.co.nz
AUCKLAND (South): TelstraClear Pacific | Tuesday 23 August | Book at Ticketdirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
TAURANGA: Baycourt Theatre | 27 – 28 August |Book at Ticketdirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
ROTORUA: Civic Theatre | Tuesday 30 August | Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 or www.ticketmaster.co.nz
TAUPO: Great Lake Centre | Wednesday 31 August | Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
HAMILTON: Founders Theatre | 2 – 3 September | Book at Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz
NEW PLYMOUTH: Theatre Royal, TSB Showplace | Tuesday 6 September | | Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 or www.ticketmaster.co.nz
NAPIER: Municipal Theatre | Thursday 8 September | Book at Ticketdirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
PALMERSTON NORTH: Regent on Broadway | Saturday 10 September | Book at Ticketdirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz

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