Are we there yet? stage play based on the book by Alison Lester

I saw the stage play of Are we there yet? last week and it was terrific but I need to say a couple of things (not about the production which I thoroughly enjoyed). The Sydney Opera House is a terrific venue of course but the organisers missed an opportunity - I expected to see this famous book on sale in the foyer. If it was there I didn't see it.  I told my companion that I assume this 2004 book would now be out of print but today I have discovered it is not. It retails for $25 but there are copies available from chain stores for as low as $16. My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything and I have previously discussed this book and wondered why the publisher never released it in a paperback format. The hardcover is a little expense but I do wonder why copies were not offered for sale in the theatre foyer?

My second concern is the age recommended by the Sydney Opera House. They list this play for ages 3+ but really in my experience (I had a three year old sitting in front of me - sigh) this production should have been listed as 8+ and with a recommendation to read the book first! 

This show was performed during the school holidays but if, as a teacher, you want to explore the book in more depth here are some ideas from Reading Australia. If you can find it the audio book of Are we there yet? is brilliant. You can listen to an audio sample here.  This sample includes by favourite scene when Billy says "call me Kylie!".  Teachers might also use the trailer to the play (see below). 

Now putting those tiny niggles aside can I say thank you to the Sydney Opera House for presenting this children's theatre production. 

Review of the play with photos: The Playhouse stage is set this summer holidays for 8-year-old Grace and her family to embark on a true coming-of-age tale that sees them journey across Australia. The camper van that serves as home for their 3-month expedition is the focal point of the play, with the audience experiencing the family’s adventures through the eyes of Grace and her brothers. A whole host of iconic Australian landmarks come to life through the narrative including the Great Australian Bight, Uluru, Surfer’s Paradise and a hilarious snapshot of Sydney which of course includes the inimitable Sydney Opera House. The staging is (simple), the acting poetic (and at times funny and silly), and the mood is wonderfully nostalgic with a beautiful message underlying.

We do not have enough theatre opportunities here in Sydney for children. Luckily we do have the Monkey Bar theatre company.  Their summer production was Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles illustrated by Rod Clement. You have missed this one but you might plan to see their April show of Emil and the Detectives. I do wish we had more theatre for children. Years ago I attended a festival of children's theatre in Calgary - it was spectacular and free! If you live in South Australian DreamBig looks like fun. 

The play is not a retelling of this famous Australian classic picture book - it is an interpretation. And as with the best of theatre especially theatre for children, it asks the audience to enter an imaginative world. We do not see inside the caravan but early on it is so easy to imagine. Using minimal props, fabulous lighting and perfect sound effects our imagination lets you see a mother whale and her calf out in the ocean, the children all diving into a swimming pool in Darwin, the fun of skimming a stone and the wonders of the changing colours of Uluru. 

My favourite scene was near the end when Grace sits near the caravan and recounts the family adventure and as she takes us back to each place the map of Australia lights up to show their journey.

This imaginative new production from CDP is adapted by multi-award-winning playwright Finegan Kruckmeyer. He also adapted another Alison Lester classic - Magic Beach.

Here is the stage play trailer. 

Here is the book blurb:

The year I turned eight, Mum and Dad took us on a trip around Australia. Luke, Billy and I missed school for the whole winter term. Join Grace and her family on their adventurous and sometimes funny expedition.

Here is the web site for Alison Lester. Awards for the book of Are we there yet?

• Winner in 2005 CBCA Book of the Year (Picture Book) Children's Book Council of Australia
• Shortlisted in 2006 Books I Love Best Yearly (BILBY) – QLD Awards (Early readers)
• Winner in 2006 Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA) (Picture Book)
• Shortlisted in 2007 Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA) (Picture Book)
• Shortlisted in 2008 Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA) (Picture Book)
• Honour Book in 2009 Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA) (Picture Book)
• Shortlisted in 2008 KROC Award (Picture Book)
• Winner in 2009 KROC Award (Picture Book)
• Winner in 2006 Young Australian Best Book Award (YABBA) (Picture Book)
• Winner in 2009 Young Australian Best Book Award (YABBA) (Picture Book)

You can hear Alison Lester talking about taking her children on the trip that inspired Are we there yet?. 

"I love those memories of that trip and as a family we all like it too. We say that it kind of gave us emotional glue that has stuck us all together really well, that time of just being on the road together," she says."

You can see art from the book here. And here is an ABC Conversation (51 minutes) with Alison and presenter Sarah Kanowski.

If you have read or seen Are we there yet? I suggest looking for this new Australian children's picture book which also explores the journey around our whole continent.