Each year, in celebration of Book Week, Meerkat Productions adapt two books shortlisted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia for the Book of The Year Awards

We choose one book from the Picture Book category & one book from the Younger Readers Chapter Book category and create two 40-minute musical productions including original songs and puppetry.

As far as we’re aware, we’re the only company adapting both a picture book and a younger readers chapter book each year; therefore, ensuring age appropriate performances for all students.

We also support Australian authors by paying royalties for every child that attends a performance of one of our adaptations

The chosen books are announced in May; however, the tour starts to sell out the previous September so make sure you book early to avoid disappointment!

ABOUT OUR SHOWS
All of our shows are fully staged musicals lasting 40 - 45 minutes (plus Q&A). The music is written by Tim Smith (The Lion King, Billy Elliot) & Luke Hunter (Come From Away, The Sound of Music) and the productions are designed by Elizabeth Millington (founder of Dead Puppets Society), Jemima Eva (Trash Puppets) and Astrid Mendez (internationally touring Puppeteer)

We encourage audience participation and active engagement in all of our performances and we use puppetry to fully engage the students and to broaden the possibilities of the way we stage our shows.

Our post-performance Q&A is structured and focused on the themes raised in the show and a behind the scenes insight into how our set, props, puppets, etc. work and how they were made.

We also provide a teachers resource pack to support our incursion both before and after we've been to the school and host a targeted, structured and informative Q&A session with the performers which which supports the school’s delivery of the Critical and Creative Thinking curriculum and explores the themes of the book and performance and also supports Inquiry learning as we discuss how the shows were produced and how the puppets and props were made.

“Was great how it was run by you and not just the kids asking random questions. (10/10)” – Bargara State School, Bargara QLD

We provide all of the staging and sound requirements, all we need from you is a performance space 5m by 3m, plus enough room for the students to sit and watch the show.

BOOKINGS
To make a booking or enquiry, simply press the GREEN Enquiry/Booking Request Button above right to directly contact the booking team. They will answer you promptly to discuss your booking including when payment will be required.

Shows for Schools not only gathers all the great available shows, it also makes booking easier!

Produced by Meerkat Productions