sculptorsPublic PerformancesSubscribeLinks
     

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

                         

 

 

The Children's Book Council of Australia

"2010 Younger Reader's Book of the Year" shortlisted book

Matty Forever

by Elizabeth Fensham

Adapted and directed by "Tony Bones" Appleby B.Ed for Tony Bones Entertainment

Music by Tony Appleby B.Ed, Luke Hunter Dip.Ed & Tim Smith Dip.Ed

 

Cost: $7.70 per student (incl. GST)

Minimum show fee: $770.00 (incl. GST)

Primary: Grade 4 - Year 8

Duration: 50 minutes + question time

Key Themes:

Key Learning Areas: Drama, Dance, Music, SOSE

Book Week: 21st to 27th August 2010

National Literacy Week: 30th August to 3rd September 2010

 

The CBCA Book Week Theme for 2010 is ...

About the play:

Bill isn't happy about moving house yet again, but when he meets his next door neighbour, Matty, things start to look up. Mat is an exciting friend, and together they have adventures, stand up to the local bully and learn to fit in at school. But when a new girl arrives, she wants Bill all to herself, and Matty and Bill have to adapt to changes, as well as learning what true friendship means. This is a gentle, uplifting read about being different, telling the truth and being loyal to friends and family. Bill and Matty are endearing main characters and readers will be barracking for their friendship, as well as being intrigued by the secret which Bill and his mum are keeping.

An enchanting story of friendship, acceptance and trust from one of Australia's favourite storytellers.

The book will come to life with original music, song & dance, thrilling drama, puppetry and comedy.

  • Audience encouraged to interact and participate.

  • Clever costume characters.

  • Different dramatic genre covered throughout the show including: puppetry, narrative, music theatre, slow motion scene, etc.

  • Curriculum linked with lesson plans.

Captivate your students’ imaginations by booking a performance on your day of choice today.

All equipment and materials supplied including:

  • a low portable stage
  • full sound system (suitable for up to 400 students)
  • stage lighting
  • free standing back drop curtain & set

This production will be announced late April 2010 but it is already pre-booking very fast, so be quick to secure a date for your school.

Back to Top (Click Here)

 

Make an enquiry

About the author:

 

Elizabeth Fensham is an Australian writer and English teacher. She was born and grew up in Sydney and now lives in the outskirts of Melbourne.

Her first novel, Helicopter Man, was published in 2005 and won the Australian Children's Book Council's Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 2006. The novel deals with the sensitive issue of schizophrenia. Her latest novel,Miss McAllister's Ghost, was published in February 2008.

Reviews for the book:

"Love, jealousy and betrayal are the stuff of many an opera. In this junior novel by CBCA award-winning author Elizabeth Fensham, the emotions are as heartfelt as those passionate tales but the outcome is hopeful rather than tragic. Bill and his mother Pam are lonely when they move to Dewey Creek. It seems this is the most recent of several moves, which has something to do with Bill’s dad who is absent. Into their lives comes young neighbour Matty Grube and her creative, big-hearted family who take Bill and Pam into a non-judgemental embrace. Matty and Bill form an exclusive club of two, sealing their friendship with an exchange of each other’s deepest secret. Then, new girl Isabelle Farquay-Jones steals Bill’s heart and he is beguiled into revealing Matty’s secret. To make amends Bill has to look into his own character then draw on all his courage and honesty. An engaging novel for readers seven years and up about the nature of real friendship, which is held back from perfection by some flatness in the narrative--noticeable in comparison to exquisitely written moments like Bill’s description of his ‘suitcase full of rocks’."

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine

Back to Top (Click Here)

Book Week is an initiative of CBCA - The Children's Book Council of Australia. To visit their website, simply click on the image below.

CBC logo

The Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year shortlist will be released on Tuesday March 30, 2010. To view the full Shortlist, visit: www.cbc.org.au The winners will be announced on Friday August 20

Each year, Australian schools and public libraries spend a week celebrating books and Australian authors and illustrators. Classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians develop activities, offer competitions and tell stories relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading.

Back to Top (Click Here)
 

Reviews for last year's play "Audrey of the Outback":

Kalinda Primary School, Ringwood, VIC

"Great story!... Great characters and look at our past history. Good reflection and relating the characters to stereotypes in Australian history. Dramatic play using the junior book awards is an excellent way to bring literature to life."

Christine Harris, Author of "Audrey of the Outback"

"I think what was uncluded was perfect. It related to the theme and the being a man thing fitted psychologically with the missing Dad and the swaggie. Would have done the same myself. Thanks again, Christine."

Caulfield Grammas School, Wheelers Hill, VIC

"The two actors had fantastic energy and enthusiasm. Great characterisation and use of simple props/puppets/sounds effects...Great to touch upon Australian history... the discussion at the end was very valuable in linking both play to book and to make it relevant for book week activities."

The Patch Primary School, The Patch, VIC

"The children LOVED the show! They were engrossed the while time... From a teachers perspective the show tied in perfectly with our Australian History Integrated Unit and there was plenty of discussion afterwards about swaggies and the colloquial language of the day."

Flinders Christian Community College, Tyabb, VIC

"A thoroughly enjoyable show. I loved the portrayal of all the characters. Amelia was very strong as Audrey and came across as a little girl starting to grow up and ask the difficult questions. Matt was great in all the parts. I enjoyed the costumes and the use of the silhouette puppet and the doll. The music was catchy and the words appropriate. Our children seemed to be engaged in and enjoy the performance. The Grade 4’s seemed most involved and asked most of the questions at the end. Thank you”

View more testimonials

Back to Top (Click Here)

Previous book titles performed by Tony Bones Entertainment:

Theatre In Education, School Show, Book Week Show, Melbourne, Victoria, Sydney, Newcastle, New South Wales, Adelaide, South Australia, Canberra, ACT, Hobart, Tasmania

Shortlisted Picture Books of the Year performed

2009 Nobody Owns the Moon by Tohby Riddle

2008 The Night Garden by Elise Hurst

2007 Water Witcher by Jan Ormerod

2006 Irving the Magician by Tohby Riddle

2005 At the Beach - Postcards from Crabby Spit by Roland Harvey

2004 Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat by Stephen Michael King

2003 Bear and Chook by Lisa Shanahan & Emma Quay

2002 Horrible Harriet by Leigh Hobbs

2001 The Singing Hat by Tohby Riddle

Shortlisted Younger Reader's Book of the Year performed

2009 Audrey of the Outback by Christine Harris

2008 Amelia Dee & the Peacock Lamp by Odo Hirsch

2007 Being Bee by Catherine Bateson

2006 To The Light by Pat Flynn

2005 Billy Mack's War by James Roy

2004 Stella by the Sea by Ruth Starke

2003 Tom Jones Saves the World by Steven Herrick

2002 My Story - A Different Sort of Real, The Diary of Charlotte McKenzie, Melbourne, 1918 by Kerry Greenwood

2001 Something's Fishy, Hazel Green! by Odo Hirsch

2000 Captain Mack by James Roy

Shortlisted Older Reader's Book of the Year performed

2002 When Dogs Cry by Markus Zusak

2001 Touch Me by James Moloney

2000 Tyro by David McRobbie

View testimonials

Back to Top (Click Here)