TRICK OF THE LIGHT'S
THE ROAD THAT WASN'T THERE
This is a story about a girl who followed a map off the edge of the world…
Photo: Anita Pitu
“An enthralling show ★★★★ ”
“All of us sometimes want to walk down a road that isn’t there, in hope of finding something better and more magical than the mundane lives we know. Watching this show was the closest I’m likely to get to actually doing that. ★★★★ ”
“★★★★★ ”
“Imaginative, thoughtful + enlightening.”
“A delightfully dark adventure, engrossing, entertaining and emotionally touching in equal measure ★★★★ ”
In New Zealand, there are some 56,000 kilometres of paper roads – streets and towns that exist only on surveyors’ maps. Or do they? A young woman strays from the beaten track and finds herself in a paper world. It seems to be a land of possibility, but she soon discovers that things that happen in the fictional world can have frighteningly real consequences.
From award-winning company Trick of the Light Theatre (The Bookbinder) comes an original fairytale drawn from the twitchy edges of children’s literature – a dark world reminiscent of Coraline, Pan’s Labyrinth, and the works of Margaret Mahy. Combining puppetry, shadow play, and live music, The Road That Wasn’t There is a curious tale for intrepid children and adventurous adults…
Created by TRICK OF THE LIGHT THEATRE
Written by RALPH MCCUBBIN HOWELL
Directed by HANNAH SMITH
Performed by RALPH MCCUBBIN HOWELL, ELLE WOOTTON, PAUL WAGGOTT
Touring Technician MATT ELLER
A co-production with Trick of the Light Theatre
WINNER – Outstanding New NZ Play, Most Promising New Director, and Production of the Year – Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards 2013
WINNER – Auckland Arts Festival Award – Auckland Fringe 2013
WINNER - Best Children's Event - Adelaide Fringe 2016
WINNER - Children's Event Award - Fringe World, Perth 2016
“Thoroughly enchanting and totally engrossing, The Road That Wasn’t There is a must see show for all ages.”
“Charming, funny and haunting in equal measure… a storytelling triumph.”
Photos: Anita Pitu
UPCOMING & PREVIOUS SEASONS
TOUR MAKERS NATIONWIDE TOUR (AOTEAROA NZ)
13 April - 28 May 2019
FESTIVAL OF COLOUR, WANAKA (AOTEAROA NZ)
2-4 April 2019
LONDON
9 - 10 June 2018
The Albany
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL
30 May - 1 June 2018
Lyra Theatre, Edinburgh
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE
3 - 27 August, 2017
Assembly Roxy Upstairs
WELLINGTON
23 July, 2017
Whitereia Performing Arts Centre
UPPER HUTT
19 July, 2017
Expressions Upper Hutt
AUCKLAND LIVE
11 - 15 July, 2017
Herald Theatre, Auckland
ADELAIDE FRINGE
12 - 20 February, 2016
The Bakehouse Theatre, Adelaide
FRINGE WORLD
27 Jan - 6 February, 2016
The Blue Room Studio, Perth
KOKOMAI FESTIVAL
22 October, 2015
Carterton Events Centre
TAURANGA ARTS FESTIVAL
24 October, 2015
Baycourt, Tauranga