Shark in the Park show to premiere at Macrobert

Tales by children's best-selling author and illustrator Nick Sharratt are being brought to life in a brand new stage show.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Jul 2016, 09:50 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 17:17 BST
Nick Sharratt has illustrated almost 250 books and written 40 books of his own including the Shark in the Park trilogyNick Sharratt has illustrated almost 250 books and written 40 books of his own including the Shark in the Park trilogy
Nick Sharratt has illustrated almost 250 books and written 40 books of his own including the Shark in the Park trilogy

Shark in the Park will premiere at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling next weekend before heading to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe next month and then the Far East next year.

The series of hilarious read-together classics has been adapted for the stage by Polmont-based playwright Simon Beattie from Nonsense Room Productions alongside artist directors Bruce Strachan and Macrobert’s Julie Ellen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The theatre company previously collaborated with Macrobert and ABA International Touring on the Hairy Maclary stage shows which have been a huge hit with audiences in the past few years.

Simon said: “It’s always great to work with an established writer, and Nick brings with him a whole audience, but we’re hoping that after the Hairy Maclary shows, we will also be able to attract our own audiences.

“We’re very conscious children will be coming to join in with the actions and the words the way they do with the books, and we have made these moments fun and different by bringing them alive with music and songs.”

Nick Sharratt’s Shark in the Park stories are a series of peep-through board books featuring Timothy Pope’s adventures with his telescope in search of a shark.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Nick, who is also famous for his illustrations in Jacqueline Wilson’s books, said: “It’s really exciting. I have been consulted a lot, heard the music from the show which is terrific, and now I can’t wait to see how my imaginations of the world and my drawings are transformed into something real on stage.”

Shark in the Park opens at the Macrobert on Saturday, July 30 at 2pm with two performances on July 31 at 11am and 2pm. It then runs at the Assembly as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from August 4 to 29.