Peterborough author’s hit book comes to life on its hometown stage at Vivacity Key Theatre.
Engine House Theatre in association with York Theatre Royal, supported by Arts Council England, are touring the UK with their production of Benji Davies’ Grandad’s Island.
Syd’s favourite person in the whole wide world is Grandad. And Grandad’s favourite person is Syd.
Join the intrepid duo as they head off on a heart-warming adventure filled with songs, laughter and jungles that will change their lives forever.
Benji Davies is an illustrator, author and animation director originally from Peterborough. His first self-penned picture book The Storm Whale won the inaugural Oscar’s Book Prize and was Dutch Picture Book Of The Year 2017. Grandad’s Island, won the children’s book category of the AOI World Illustration Awards 2015 and was crowned Best Picture Book and overall Children’s Book of the Year at the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards 2015.
Director Matt Aston, who also adapted Grandad’s Island for the stage, founded Engine House Theatre Company in September 2010. Engine House Theatre Company strives to inspire and challenge audiences through a commitment to produce and tour new work, adaptations and contemporary plays.
Benji Davies says: “It’s incredibly exciting to see how Matt and his team have taken my words and pictures and, with great vision, brought them to life on the stage. Matt’s script is fantastic, digging deeper into the lives of Grandad and Syd whilst embodying the true spirit and themes of the book. I can’t wait for people to see Grandad’s Island on its second UK Tour.”
Matt Aston says, “I first read Grandad’s Island in a book shop in the summer of 2015 whilst looking for a new story for my two boys. I knew immediately I wanted to adapt it for the stage. Several meetings, two Arts Council bids and three and a half years later we’re ready to share our version of Benji’s beautiful book with UK audiences for a second time.”
Grandad’s Island comes to Vivacity Key Theatre on Sunday April 28 at 1.30pm & 3.30pm & Monday April 29 at 10.30am & 1.30pm. Book online at www.vivacity.org or call the Key Theatre Box Office on 01733 207239.