HILLS YOUTH THEATRE INC. PO Box 561 Stirling SA 5152

PRESS RELEASE

Hills Youth Theatre proudly presents

James and the Giant Peach

By Roald Dahl, Adapted by David Wood By arrangement with Origin Theatrical, on behalf of Samuel French, Ltd

Directed by Judy Sampson and Di Mason 24 June – 3 July 2016

The Hills Youth Theatre’s 30th anniversary celebrations continue with their June production, James and the Giant Peach. Co-directed by HYT tutors Judy Sampson and Di Mason, this show promises enormous fun, huge laughs, great puppets, epic magic and one giant peach.

James and the Giant Peach was selected in a nod to the production that set the seed for the HYT. In 1985, Stirling Community Theatre stalwart Tom Dyster wrote and produced a play in which children were cast for the Stirling Players: The Terribly Noisy Giant. The success of this production generated many requests from children and parents for a place for young people to learn about theatre, and from this HYT was born.

Orphan James is sent to live with his horribly awful Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker after his parents are killed in a terrible accident involving a rhino. One day, a curious little man appears, thrusting a faintly glowing bag at James and promising that his magic bag of “little green things” will free James from life with his terrible, cruel aunts. But when James drops the bag and the magic is sucked into the ground around an old peach tree, the most incredible thing happens... Aunt Spiker spots it first; a single peach growing high in their peach tree. Growing and growing until it’s as big and fat as Aunt Sponge!

All greedy Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker can think of is that the remarkable peach will make them rich. But James knows something else, something stranger than ever this time, is about to happen. With his new family of Old Green Grasshopper, Miss Spider, Ladybird, Earthworm, and Centipede in his enormous juicy dwelling, James embarks on a thrilling, surreal adventure.

This is a story of broad fantasy, with the vivid imagery of old-fashioned fairy tales and a good measure of their breathtaking delights.

Performances will be held at Stirling Community Theatre, 7 Avenue Road, Stirling on: Friday, 24 June at 7.00pm, Saturday, 25 June at 5.00pm, Sunday 26 June at 2.00pm

Friday, 1 July at 7.00pm, Saturday, 2 July at 5.00pm, Sunday, 3 July at 2.00pm.

Tickets on sale now at www.hillsyouththeatre.com. Prices are: adults $15, child/concession $12, family $48 (2 adults, 2 children).

Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite

storybook character for a walk on stage!

Hills Youth Theatre is a community based non-profit organisation that provides quality drama education and performance opportunities to children aged from 5 years through to young adult, in the Stirling and surrounding hills area.

HYT Publicity Team for James and the Giant Peach

Lucy Russell Byrne & Jon McKay 0409 903 380 0404 079241

www.hillsyouththeatre.com