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

Photo: Anita Pitu

An enthralling show ★★★★
— Edinburgh Festivals Magazine
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. ★★★★
— Lexical Lunacy, UK
★★★★★
— Edinburgh Festivals for Kids
Imaginative, thoughtful + enlightening.
— FringeReview UK's list of Highly Recommended Shows
A delightfully dark adventure, engrossing, entertaining and emotionally touching in equal measure ★★★★
— Broadway Baby, UK

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.
— The Dominion Post
 
 
 
 
Charming, funny and haunting in equal measure… a storytelling triumph.
— Word on the Street
 

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