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Round The Twist The Musical to premiere next week

The world premiere of a new musical based on the iconic television series Round the Twist is just days away, with Round The Twist The Musical opening in Brisbane next week.

The musical, created and composed by Paul Hodge and directed by Simon Phillips, brings to life the unforgettable characters and storylines of the children’s series Round the Twist, which was based on the television series produced by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) from the short stories of legendary Australian author Paul Jennings.

In an old lighthouse, single dad Tony Twist and his kids Pete, Linda and Bronson embark on a magical adventure to unravel a 100-year-old mystery and rewrite history. With the help of a haunted outhouse, a crystal ball, some friendly ghosts and smelly feet (up the pong!), this family might just have what it takes to save the day.

The musical adaptation of Round the Twist will cover the first two seasons of the television series and has Jennings’ blessing thanks to Hodge’s staunch faithfulness to the essence of the show.

Composer Paul Hodge said: “It was always very important to me to maintain the spirit of the show. It's been very important to me to make sure that Paul Jennings and the ACTF have been happy with it.

“I think people who grew up watching it and are now adults are going to get a lot out of it – there will be a nostalgia factor as they get to see these stories come to life, and there will also be a lot of fun new things. And I am very excited for a new generation of kids to come and see it. Some of the people who grew up watching it, they will have kids now and to bring them to see it, and they'll get to experience those stories and that fun for the first time.”

The world premiere season of Round the Twist The Musical is co-presented by QPAC and Queensland Theatre. With the original theme song by Andrew Duffield, the musical is based on the television series produced by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) from the short series of Paul Jennings.

Round The Twist The Musical is on at the QPAC Playhouse from 12 November – 8 December 2024. Tickets are available from QPAC.

The following photographs have been taken during rehearsals. Image credit: Lyndon Mechielsen.

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