Enter an exquisitely magical world and join acclaimed independent Adelaide-based theatre company, Slingsby for its premiere of The Young King at the 2016 Adelaide Festival of Arts from 27 February.
Created for family and adult audiences, The Young King is an interactive and beautiful, fable-like tale of a naïve young goatherder, leading a simple life. Ignorant of his birthright as heir to the kingdom, fate finally catches up with the boy, taking him from his forest idyll to assume his kingly duties. As a quest ensues for treasures to create his robes, crown and sceptre, the boy faces a series of internal struggles and contemplations.
The Young King is the internationally-acclaimed company’s sixth production and will be staged in a location set to stir fond childhood memories for many adult audience members, in the Company’s signature innovative and interactive style, within an enchanting forest-world created in the former Dazzeland amusement complex, in Adelaide’s Myer Centre.
Slingsby will take over the former Dazzeland site, transforming it into an intimate and immersive space with capacity for 100 audience members. Dazzeland operated for seven years until 1998 and during its lifetime its rollercoaster and games were a magnet for people of all ages. While the site has been cleared, the memories remain.
Slingsby’s Artistic Director, Andy Packer said the achingly beautiful and tender language of literary great Oscar Wilde was the springboard for this mystical creation that leads audience and cast on a journey in wonder, to a land of challenging choices and rich rewards.
“It’s an ideal space in many ways,’’ said Packer.. “It will stir the magical memories of many who visited it in the past and Oscar Wilde’s story and our production, incorporating original music by Quincy Grant, sets designed by Wendy Todd and lighting by Geoff Cobham, will create new memories for our audiences.”
“We are not giving too much away, but people really can expect something different, and thrilled the Adelaide Festival will host the debut of The Young King as it’s the first time we’ve been part of the event since 2010. The intervening years have been busy for us.’’
Founded in 2007, Slingsby has enchanted audiences in 68 venues in 43 cities across 10 countries, including a ‘sold-out’ season of the production The Tragical Life of Cheeseboy on 42nd Street, New York. Soon after its inception, Slingsby secured a season in Adelaide’s Space Theatre for its first production, The Tragical Life of Cheeseboy.
The show sold out in its inaugural season, and was subsequently presented at the 16th ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival, held in Adelaide in 2008. (ASSITEJ is a French acronym for international Association of Theatre for Children and Young People).
Slingsby’s work soon grabbed attention nationally and around the globe, with invitations to participate in festivals in Sydney, Madrid, Cleveland, Singapore and Bath. In 2013, Slingsby was just one of four Australian companies to present at the invitation-only International Performing Arts for Youth showcase event in Philadelphia with its spotlight presentation of Man Covets Bird. In 2014, The Tragical Life of Cheeseboy toured Ireland and Norway.
Director: Andy Packer Starring: Tim Overton, Jacqy Phillips Composer: Quincy Grant Adaption: Nicki Bloom Designer: Wendy Todd Lighting Designer: Geoff Cobham Illustration: Andy Ellis Production Manager: Bob Weatherly Stage Manager: Catherine Turnbull
The Young King
Dazzeland Atrium – Myer Centre, Rundle Mall, Adelaide
Season: 27 February – 13 March 2016
Bookings: 13 12 46 or online at: www.adelaidefestival.com.au
For more information, visit: www.adelaidefestival.com.au or www.slingsby.net.au for details.
Image: Tim Overton in The Young King – photo by Andy Ellis